28 Dec No Statutory Authority for Appeal of National Register Listing

(Pott. County Commission Meeting, November 27, 2017) | The Manhattan Mercury

In other business Monday:
Counselor John Watt, in response to a question from commissioners last week, said there is no statutory authority for appealing a decision to list the Pott County Courthouse on the National Register of Historic Places. There is authority for an “agency appeal” to make certain the process was followed correctly, “but it appears such an appeal would not be successful and would be a waste of your time and money,” Watt said. At the request of a local preservation group, the Kansas Historic Sites Board of Review recently approved the nomination of the courthouse to the National Register. The action gives state officials a voice in any future modifications to the courthouse, including possible demolition. Commissioners went on record opposing the listing, saying it could tie their hands in planning for future facilities needs for the county. Ed Quigley, Blaine, during the public comments portion of the agenda, likened the courthouse to an old house. “It’s a bottomless pit,” he said. Quigley said many of his acquaintances oppose spending more money to preserve the 133-year-old structure, but “they won’t come down and speak out. There are a lot of people who feel that way.” Weixelman concurred. “That’s the same gist I’m getting from talking to people,” he said. “There are a lot of people against it.”