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City gives ACHS more time on cabin |
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Wednesday, 26 March 2008 |
By WILLIAM LANEY
Managing Editor
Members of a Wapakoneta City Council committee opened a little wider a window of opportunity, giving a county organization additional time to decide on the fate of a log cabin in Wapakoneta.
Lands and Buildings Committee members decided Tuesday to give the Auglaize County Historical Society board members at least a couple of months to decide if they want to take ownership of the city-owned log cabin on Harrison Street.
“We are definitely going to wait for an answer from the Auglaize County Historical Society if they are interested in the log cabin,” Lands and Buildings Committee Chair Bonnie Wurst told the Wapakoneta Daily News. “If they have no interest in it or the logs out of it, then we will be revisiting offering it for sale to the public.”
Safety-Service Director Rex Katterheinrich is to write a letter to Auglaize County Historical Society President Karen Dietz and Historical Society Administrator Rachel Barber offering the log cabin to the group.
Upon a recommendation by 4th Ward Councilor Dan Graf, Historical Society board members are to have at least two months to decide. Graf said they should be given time to inspect the building and then meet and make a decision about if they want the building.
Graf also suggested city administrators contact people who may have reserved the building for use in the coming months as well as groups using the building for regular meetings to tell them that “it will no longer be available so they can make other plans.”
No date has been established for discontinued use.
At city council’s March 3 meeting, a motion to have legislation drafted to seek bids on the building was withdrawn to give Auglaize County Historical Society board members time to consider ownership of the log cabin.
Two area log cabin enthusiasts estimate it would cost $80,000 to raze and rebuild the cabin, but other less expensive measures could be utilized to save the structure.
Wapakoneta resident Trell Yocum, who razes and rebuilds log cabins, said the city log cabin would be valued at approximately $1,000, with the buyer responsible for razing the building, Wurst told committee members.
Wurst also addressed the history of the log cabin, referencing news clippings in the Wapakoneta Daily News and previous city council meeting minutes.
She learned the foundation for the cabin was constructed in May 1939 and the cabin constructed shortly after that time. In March 1975, councilors approved a Parks and Recreation Committee recommendation to give the log cabin to the Wapakoneta Police Department auxiliary, who would maintain the structure with materials provided by the city.
Wurst said Law Director Dennis Faller said the resolution was not legally binding since no deed transfer was made.
The 3rd Ward councilor also said periodic maintenance of the log cabin failed to occur, most likely because current auxiliary members and councilors were no longer aware of the deal negotiated by their predecessors.
“In 1975, the agreement was the police auxiliary would maintain it with the city supplying the materials,” Wurst said. “My personal opinion is both sides likely share some responsibility — the city didn’t provide any materials for the auxiliary to keep up with the maintenance.”
Wurst intends to update councilors at the April 7 Wapakoneta City Council meeting. |
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 27 March 2008 )
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