Memorial Hall trustees warn of possible summer closure as facility faces funding shortfall

Trustees for Memorial Hall told the Atchison County Board of Commissioners on April 8 they expect the facility’s operating funds may be exhausted this summer unless the county or partner organizations provide additional support.

Travis Grossman, a Memorial Hall trustee, and Nick Grama, Parks and Recreation superintendent, presented an accounting of Memorial Hall revenue and expenses and said the trustees project roughly $61,000 in income for the current fiscal period against roughly $65,000–$68,000 in projected expenses. The trustees reported about $9,800 in cash on hand. Grossman said the recreation commission had agreed to take on roughly $12,000 in cleaning-fee revenue previously collected by the trustees and would continue a longstanding $25,000 annual contribution; that adjustment reduces but may not eliminate the shortfall.

Trustees described a list of community uses that would be affected if the building closed, including youth and adult leagues, day camps, blood drives, roller-skating, community fundraisers and other events. Grossman and Grama said the hall also houses a military memorial and that local veterans groups have an interest in preserving the facility.

Commissioners acknowledged the trustees’ concern but said county resources are constrained. Finance Director Mark Seltner told trustees the county has approximately $500,000 in unencumbered operating reserve funds but that several other county facilities have urgent capital needs—examples included a roof leak at EMS—so the county must prioritize requests. Commissioners asked trustees to provide exact dollar requests and anticipated timing; they suggested workshops or follow-up meetings to develop a plan rather than an immediate appropriation.

What was asked and what trustees said - Trustees requested county help to prevent a closure that could begin as early as July if revenues and current appropriations do not cover expenses. - Trustees said they need approximately $30,000 per year from the county to restore historical funding levels and cover basic operating and maintenance costs; trustees said the county previously provided mowing, snow removal and utilities as part of a maintenance arrangement that has since changed.

Responses from county leaders Commissioners said they could not make immediate, unrestricted commitments and suggested exploring grants, fundraising with veteran organizations and reallocating existing county appropriations during the upcoming budget process. Commissioners asked county staff to gather estimates for outstanding capital needs and return with a prioritized list for possible emergency funding decisions.

Context and next steps Trustees and the Recreation Commission will return to the board with more detailed, itemized costs and timing. Commissioners asked staff to include Memorial Hall in upcoming budget workshops and to provide cost estimates from the facilities study the county previously commissioned so the board can weigh preservation options against other urgent county facility needs.