Franklin County to explore permanent storage building for historical society at visitor center

Franklin County commissioners on March 3 held a study-session discussion about placing a permanent accessory building on the county visitor center property to store artifacts now kept at the Crestview site, and directed staff to gather quotes and check local zoning before returning with options.

The discussion matters because the historical society’s existing storage at Crestview is near capacity and the society has only temporary assurances from a Crestview buyer that they may continue using the accessory building for a limited time. Commissioners and staff said a new structure on the visitor-center site could provide longer-term stability for the collection, but questions remain about cost, utilities and whether the county should deed or lease the visitor center to the historical society.

County staff told commissioners the State of Kansas has confirmed in writing that the visitor center, which was originally built with grant funding, is no longer legally restricted to operate only as a visitor center. A county official said one option would be to deed the visitor…