Kittitas County Press Release
Commissioners
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
County Awards Historical Society $5,000 Grant
Kittitas County, WA - 05/18/2012 - Kittitas County Commissioners recently awarded a $5000 grant from county lodging tax funds to the Kittitas County Historical Society to help purchase new, permanent displays for the Rollinger Rock Collection. The grant was announced Wednesday evening by Commissioner Paul Jewell at an award ceremony during the Historical Museum's Open House event. "We are extremely pleased that the Rollinger Rock Collection has found a permanent home at the Kittitas County Historical Museum," Jewell said. "The collection will now be enjoyed in perpetuity and these funds are being made available to the Historical Society to make certain that happens."
While the collection has been housed at the museum for many years, it only recently became a permanent exhibit when the Historical Society acquired sole ownership. Originally, the County accepted ownership of the collection from the Rollinger family in 1974. That contract included significant obligations for maintaining the collection and displaying it. For many years, the County contracted with the Historical Society to keep the collection at the museum. After several years of budget cutbacks and employee layoffs, the County notified the museum it was no longer willing to renew the contract late in 2011. Since then, the County and the Society have been in negotiations with representatives of the Rollinger family to decide the fate of the collection.
“We are extremely appreciative of all the work the Board of the Historical Society put into getting a new agreement in place for the Rollinger Rock Collection,” added Commissioner Jewell. “We wouldn’t be where we are without the willingness of the Society to work with us and the representatives of the Rollinger family to find a solution that fit each party’s best interests.” The new agreement grants full ownership to the Kittitas County Historical Society and removes any further obligation or ownership responsibility from County Government.
Kittitas County, from the Cascades to the Columbia, and online at http://www.co.kittitas.wa.us
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Contact (media only): Paul Jewell
509-962-7508
paul.jewell@co.kittitas.wa.us
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