Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Historic Preservation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Kennewick museum volunteers urge council to preserve East Benton County Museum amid city hall plans
Summary
Museum volunteers and board members told council the East Benton County Museum and its 9,000 sq ft collection could be lost if a new city hall is built on the current site; speakers described the museum's donor history, lease terms and recent investments and asked council to consider reuse instead of demolition.
Multiple museum volunteers and board members used the public comment period to urge the Kennewick City Council to preserve the East Benton County Museum and its collections if the city proceeds with plans for a new city hall.
Misty Ayers told the council the museum is "the keeper of the people's things" and described its collection, programs and recent investments, saying the nearly 9,000-square-foot building was built with donations and community support and houses archives, exhibits and community programs. Gail Metcalfe, secretary of the East Benton County Historical Society, said the museum provides intergenerational benefits for children and seniors and cautioned council against moving or trading the collection. Beverly Johnson Torelli noted the original arrangement in which donors gave the building to the city and the museum leased it back for $1 per year under a 50-year agreement with renewal rights; she asked council to factor that history into decisions.
Speakers suggested alternatives to demolition, including stabilizing and reusing the existing building for arts, archival storage or a municipal center, and expressed concern about demolition costs and potential hazardous materials. Warren Hughes proposed repairing the roof to preserve the 30,000-square-foot facility as a community asset rather than demolishing it.
Council members acknowledged the comments during the city hall RFP discussion and staff said further vetting will include evaluating agreements and options for the museum as part of the next steps.
