Community members discuss building project

A straw poll taken during a Sunday evening meeting showed a majority of the audience favored construction of a community center in Clearwater.

More than 50 residents attended the meeting, held at the American Legion and led by Sons of Clearwater members Kelly Kerkman and Bill Thiele.

According to Kerkman, Sons of Clearwater is “a spinoff of the Sons of the Legion” when the former hardware store was acquired and eventually, the Clearwater Cafe property.

Thiele said the current American Legion building has “served the community well for several years.”

The catch?

"There's ongoing questions with the ownership of this building (legion). The fact is, most members of the Legion are getting older. State statues indicate that if this ever ends as a Legion, it no longer belongs to anybody in Clearwater," Thiele said.

Other towns could be incorporated to make the Legion operable. For several years, options have been explored, but in the last six months, nothing has been decided.

According to Thiele, the Sons of the Legion pay "the majority" of operating expenses for the American Legion building.

"We're starting to be reluctant to continue putting money into facilities that we don't actually own and especially in the fact that this isn't a new building. You always run into the question, 'When is enough, enough?' and you start over."

The Sons of the Legion currently pay more than $1,000 monthly to keep the building open. Proceeds from the twice-a-month wing night and annual rodeo dance drink sales help keep the lights on.

Kerkman said Sons of the American Legion have paid for upgrades to the front of the building and the purchase of the cafe property with rodeo money.

"We try to give something back to the town with rodeo money," Kerkman said.

Approximately a year ago, Sons of the American Legion approached Legion and Auxiliary members about the potential of remodeling the Legion, incorporating the cafe.

"Since then, we're having real reservations if that's a smart move."

If a center comes to fruition, Legion memorabilia, including the honor flags, flag cases and photos of veterans would be able to be placed in the new facility.

"Then it's up to Legion members themselves to decide what they want to do with this (building)," Thiele said.

Thiele said a potential building project at the rodeo grounds jumpstarted discussion about the community center.

Chamber officials have discussed construction of a facility that would house an office, kitchen, meeting room and storage.

According to Thiele, those talks led to consideration of a adding a community center at the rodeo grounds.

Thiele said, "It's our opinion that if we go all in out there, it's going to take a lot more dollars to build the entirety ...We're absolutely not opposed to anything the Chamber and the rodeo committee is reinvesting or decides to do at the rodeo grounds."

If a Main Street community center were to be built, it would require demolition of the former hardware store, which currently houses storage for Kerkman Electric.

The vacant lot and hardware store measure 76 feet wide by 92 feet deep, according to Kerkman.

"That's right at 7,000 square feet," he said. "We're thinking one big room with a couple storage rooms and a couple bathrooms make it affordable."

If the current kitchen in the cafe is utilized, the Bunker Bar could be relocated in the cafe so it could be shut off when not used.

The Sons of Clearwater would take responsibility for the new facility.

Thiele said, "We believe if a community hall is going to be built, it should be on Main Street," Thiele said. "If we continue to lose or tear down buildings, we become a ghost town."

Thiele said funds for the proposed building will need to come from the community.

"Just like we did with the grocery store and the fire hall," he said. "We don't see this happening without a considerable donation from the chamber. I'm not speaking for the chamber, that is 100% their decision if they're interested in it."

Thiele said he estimated the need for $200,000 to $250,000 in a donation from the organization.

"There are smaller amounts that could be obtained through grants," Thiele said. "We think it's a 'non-starter' without the Chamber's backing. We're also not interested in building something that isn't 100% paid for. We're not interested in taking a note out to fund it ... The money has to come from the community."

Chamber president Curt Thiele said a 60-foot by 80-foot building is under consideration at the rodeo grounds. He said chamber members will assist with construction of the building, like they did when they refabricated bleachers at the rodeo facility.

"So you're not planning a community center, you're planning a working environment," resident Marsha Hart said. "I think it's a good idea."

Bill Thiele said one purpose of the meeting was to give input to the Sons of Clearwater, as well as the chamber.

The Sons of Clearwater were unable to provide a cost estimate for the project.