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Shawnee at odds with director of local museum

The city pulled the museum’s lease because it’s closed but the director said it’s the city’s fault

Shawnee at odds with director of local museum

The city pulled the museum’s lease because it’s closed but the director said it’s the city’s fault

ANSWERS TONIGHT. WE WERE KIND OF SURPRISED THAT THERE HAD BEEN NO MENTION TO GIVEN TO US. WE HAVE NOT. ANY DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CITY AN UNEXPECTED LETTER LETTING THE POTAWATOMIE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY KNOW THEIR LEASE WOULDN’T BE RENEWED FOR THE SANTA FE DEPOT MUSEUM. IT’S THE INTENT OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN TO CONTINUE TO USE IT AS A THE CITY CLAIMING IT’S NOT BEING USED FOR HISTORICAL URPOSES. IT IS ONLY USED FOR STORAGE. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF TOURS GOING THROUGH BUT THERE’S NO REGULAR USAGE OF THE BUILDING OTHER THAN FOR STORAGE. THE MUSEUM DIRECTOR SAYS THIS ISN’T TRUE AND THEY’RE WAITING ON THE CITY TO TAKE ACTION SO THEY CAN REOPEN HEAR FROM THE OUTSIDE. YOU CAN SEE EVERYTHING LOOKS LIKE IT’S IN PLACE BUT INDOORS, THERE’S DAMAGE EVERYWHERE AND PER THE LEASE THE CITY IS RESPONSIBLE TO FIX THE PLACE UP. THEY’RE ACKNOWLEDGING THAT IT’S THEIR RESPONSIBILITY, BUT THEN THEY THE CITY MANAGER SAYS THEY WANT TO FIX THE DAMAGES, BUT IT WILL COST AUNROD 2 MILLION DOLLARS. DON’T DO SOMETHING. WE WOULD LOSE HISTORICAL. AND THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT USES INCLUDING A MUSEUM THAT WILL REALLY LIKE TO GET THIS THE COMMUNITY’S FEEDBACK ON WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE HOW THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS PARTICULAR BUILDING USED. NOW. THE COMMUNITY WILL HAVE A S
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Shawnee at odds with director of local museum

The city pulled the museum’s lease because it’s closed but the director said it’s the city’s fault

The city of Shawnee is at odds with the director of a museum in town.The city pulled the museum’s lease because it’s closed but the director said it’s the city’s fault"We were kind of surprised that there has been no mention given to us. We have not had any discussions with the city," said Ken Landry, the museum director at Pottawatomie County Museum.An unexpected letter let the Pottawatomie County Historical Society know their lease wouldn’t be renewed for the Santa Fe Depot Museum."It’s the intent of the historical society and always has been to continue to use it as a museum," Landry said.The city claimed it’s not being used for historical purposes."Currently it is only used for storage. There are a couple of tours going through but there is no regular usage of the building other than for storage," said Andrea Weckmueller-Behringer, the city manager in Shawnee.The museum director said it isn’t true and they’re waiting on the city to take action so they can reopen.From the outside, it looks like everything is in place but indoors, there is damage everywhere and per the lease, the city is responsible to fix the place."They’re acknowledging that it’s their responsibility but then they haven’t fixed it," Landry said.The city manager said they want to fix the damages but it will cost around $2 million."If we don’t do something now, we would lose a historical landmark and we don’t want to. There are many different uses, including the museum, that we would like to get the community’s feedback, what they would like to see, how they would like to see this particular building used," Weckmueller-Behringer said.Now, the community will have a say to save the museum or repurpose the building.

The city of Shawnee is at odds with the director of a museum in town.

The city pulled the museum’s lease because it’s closed but the director said it’s the city’s fault

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"We were kind of surprised that there has been no mention given to us. We have not had any discussions with the city," said Ken Landry, the museum director at Pottawatomie County Museum.

An unexpected letter let the Pottawatomie County Historical Society know their lease wouldn’t be renewed for the Santa Fe Depot Museum.

"It’s the intent of the historical society and always has been to continue to use it as a museum," Landry said.

The city claimed it’s not being used for historical purposes.

"Currently it is only used for storage. There are a couple of tours going through but there is no regular usage of the building other than for storage," said Andrea Weckmueller-Behringer, the city manager in Shawnee.

The museum director said it isn’t true and they’re waiting on the city to take action so they can reopen.

From the outside, it looks like everything is in place but indoors, there is damage everywhere and per the lease, the city is responsible to fix the place.

"They’re acknowledging that it’s their responsibility but then they haven’t fixed it," Landry said.

The city manager said they want to fix the damages but it will cost around $2 million.

"If we don’t do something now, we would lose a historical landmark and we don’t want to. There are many different uses, including the museum, that we would like to get the community’s feedback, what they would like to see, how they would like to see this particular building used," Weckmueller-Behringer said.

Now, the community will have a say to save the museum or repurpose the building.