The Koochiching County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday heard a presentation on a proposal to acquire the Minnesota Department of Transportation Tourist Center Building for the future home of the Koochiching County Historical Society.
Ed Oerichbauer, executive director, KCHS, made the presentation and urged the board to consider the structure that would be made available from MnDOT under the condition it would be used for some county purpose.
There are competing proposals for potential use of the building, which would require repairs including $18,000 in roof repairs, according to Oerichbauer.
The International Falls Area Gateway Corridor Task Force hopes to acquire it as a future tourism center to draw people downtown. The task force stated the site integrates the downtown area with the gateway to Rainy River, Rainy Lake and Canada.
Oerichbauer said the Historical Society and Museums would not be able to move in right away, which creates an ideal setting for continued fund raising and would allow time for lease issues to be explored with current and future tenants.
Commissioners Pavleck and Lepper were concerned that the county would assume unnecessary liabilities associated with acquiring real estate that it would not occupy for its own use.
Oerichbauer said that if funding is not found for the museum project by the second year then it would end the user agreement.
“If the funding is not there, then it reverts back to MnDOT in a year,” he said.
Commission Chair Mike Hanson said that the board could favor the move if the county attorney addressed the liability and lease issues and supported moving forward.
Commissioner Pavleck noted that the museum has long sought a new space and that this building might be the opportunity the county needs. He said the museum would have an adequate space, a quality location, and that the county would be making a commitment to its history and culture.
