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 center to the Franklin County Historical Society and lease back a portion for tourism volunteers, but staff did not recommend a specific approach at this meeting.

Staff estimated the accessory building roughly matching the Crestview structure (36 by 65 feet) would cost about $80,000 for the shell based on a preliminary vendor check, with HVAC, concrete apron and site work likely bringing a realistic all-in estimate to about $100,000. A county official cautioned that those are rough figures and that the county would obtain multiple firm quotes before making a budget decision.

Officials also raised infrastructure issues: the visitor-center site currently uses a holding tank, and county staff said tapping into the City of Ottawa sewer would be a major expense if required. Staff proposed locating a new building to minimize electrical runs and to allow for a separate meter so the historical society could pay its own utilities if the county retained ownership.

Historical-society representatives told the commission their existing Crestview storage is “pretty much full to the gills,” and said the society would like more space and to be involved in planning. “We enjoy being there and we’re very appreciative of the county for starting this dialogue on this accessory building,” a historical-society representative said.

Commissioners and staff discussed several possible next steps: (1) have county staff obtain multiple construction quotes for a building the same size as the Crestview accessory structure and for larger alternative sizes; (2) engage Diana Starston Dean and other historical-society leaders in design and cost conversations; and (3) have county planners (Pat and Nathan) make preliminary inquiries with the City of Ottawa about zoning and utility requirements to identify any “landmines.”

No formal motion or vote was taken because the meeting was a study session. Staff said they would return with quotes, more detailed cost and utility information, and preliminary coordination with the city at a future meeting. Commissioners noted a practical timeline: the county’s contract for Crestview references continued use of the accessory building for a limited period, and staff estimated the historical society would need a replacement structure in roughly two years to avoid another disruptive move.

The study session also considered ownership options: county staff outlined that deeding the visitor center to the historical society and leasing back tourism space would place ownership and maintenance responsibility on the society, while retaining county ownership would require the county to budget for construction, utilities and long-term upkeep. Commissioners raised the risk that future boards could change policy; one commissioner observed that a 20-year lease would likely outlast current board members and that arrangements should account for future governance changes.

Next steps recorded during the session: staff will obtain multiple contractor quotes (including options larger than the current Crestview structure), involve historical-society leadership in planning meetings, and have county planners check the City of Ottawa regulations and sewer requirements before the commission considers a formal recommendation.