Pottawatomie County commissioners voted 2-1 Monday to allow a local group interested in preserving the courthouse in Westmoreland the opportunity to tour the building.
Commission Vice Chair Pat Weixelman, who supported the measure, says he recently met with the group and suggested a walk-through might be beneficial to get to some resolution for the future of the property.
“I also said that if this happened, there would have to be somebody available from the county to guide it and I would like an agenda who is going to be present with maybe a total of 15 or 20 people, not 150 people walking through,” he said.
Commissioner Dee McKee opposed. She says the group has the belief that the county can resolve the situation.
“When I went to the Historical Society, Mr. Zoellner said do an RFP (request for proposals) and see whether people are willing to do those bonds themselves, do the match and stuff so you have all the options, that way they get a chance and anyone else that might be helpful gets a chance,” she said.
The courthouse building, constructed in 1884, is currently owned by Pottawatomie County. Commission Chair Greg Riat also supported having a walk through. County officials moved out of the courthouse and into its current facility nearly a decade ago.
County Administrator Chad Kinsley says the county will need time to clean up the property first. He also said the Citizens for Courthouse Conservation of Pottawatomie County also reached out to him about touring the property to assess water damage it incurred from past flooding.
Any walk through won’t take place until likely late June or July.
