PROSPECT — Like soldiers stationed there in the 19th century, state employees will soon be a thing of the past at Fort Knox.

Instead, as of April 15, the fort will be entirely staffed, managed and maintained by the Friends of Fort Knox, a private nonprofit group.

Though the state will still own the massive granite structure, a lease agreement means the Friends organization will now be responsible for everything from lawn mowing to leading visitors through the brick-lined tunnels.

Officials involved with brokering the new arrangement noted the Friends have had a management contract with the state for about a decade, allowing them to sell admission tickets, run the gift shop and guide visitors.

“We see it as a natural evolution of our wanting to be able to support the fort more,” said Carol Weston, president of the Friends’ board of directors.

Weston signed off on the lease agreement April 3, as did Department of Conservation Commissioner Bill Beardsley and Will Harris, director of the Bureau of Parks and Lands.

Weston said taking on a larger role in operations at the fort was something that the Friends board had discussed for awhile. The board voted unanimously to pursue the idea, she said, and a subcommittee worked with state officials to draft a detailed plan.

Governor Paul LePage has given his approval to the arrangement, according to his press secretary, Adrienne Bennett, and is expected to soon sign a financial order finalizing the deal.

Beardsley said state statute allows for officials to approve the lease without legislative approval.

The lease agreement will go into effect April 15, and is slated to run until Dec. 31, 2015. It covers everything from financial reporting requirements to what happens if historical artifacts are discovered at the fort (the state retains ownership of them).

Prior to the lease agreement being signed, the management contract for Fort Knox called for a 50-50 split of admission fees between the state and the Friends group, with the state’s share going into the general fund.

Under the new arrangement, the state’s share will drop to 15 percent and the remaining 85 percent will all go to the Friends.

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