Nearly a year after a tornado tore through Westmoreland, destroying several buildings, Pottawatomie County’s public works department is rebuilding—with help from Kansas State University. As part of plans to develop its Agronomy Research and Innovation Center, K-State is reorganizing space at its Agronomy North Farm, north of Bill Snyder Family Stadium. That effort includes removing outdated storage buildings, including an 8,000-square-foot metal shed once used to store combines, trucks, and other equipment.

Rather than demolish the shed, Joe Whitlock, K-State’s executive director of environmental health and safety, looked for a sustainable alternative in line with the university’s Next-Gen K-State strategy. He contacted regional organizations, and Pottawatomie County responded quickly, visiting the site within a day to assess the building.

County crews are now dismantling the shed and plan to reconstruct it in Westmoreland later this year. It will serve as a new operations center for the public works department, housing vehicles and equipment such as skid loaders, mini backhoes, and weed control trucks.

Mark Jack, noxious weed director and former Westmoreland mayor, said the project highlights responsible reuse. “This is about saving resources and taxpayer money,” he said. “It’s something both K-State and our county can be proud of.”