Wednesday, February 25, 2026 |
Photo – Hanna Recreation Center – Bigfoot99 file photo
Hanna officials tabled a decision to transfer management of the town’s shuttered recreation center to a locally run nonprofit.
Earlier this month, Hanna Recreation Board member Dorn Hetzel announced the formation of the Friends of the Hanna Recreation Center. Hetzel explained the nonprofit was set up to take over operations of the closed rec center from the town.
Speaking at the February 10th Hanna Town Council meeting, Hetzel said for budget reasons, the organization intends to only reopen portions of the building.
As a nonprofit organization, Hetzel said the Hanna Recreation Center would be staffed entirely by volunteers, a cost cutting measure the town was legally unable to utilize. In exchange for a $1 annual lease, Hetzel asked the town to donate water, sewer, and landfill services. The nonprofit will cover all other utilities, including gas and electricity.
The governing body appeared supportive of Hetzel’s plan but raised concerns over liability. Hetzel explained that the Friends of the Hanna Recreation Center can provide insurance for its volunteers and members, but not the building. As a result, the town would need to continue carrying the facility under its governmental property insurance policy. Consequently, the Friends group would require all users to sign a liability waiver before entering the building.
Following Hetzel’s presentation, the Hanna Town Council scheduled a special meeting to discuss potential liability concerns with the town attorney. Originally set for February 17th, the session was postponed until the 23rd.
During Monday’s meeting, the governing body entered executive session to consider transferring management of the recreation center to the nonprofit. After the Council reconvened, Mayor Charlie George announced that a decision would have to wait until the governing body, the town attorney, and the full Friends of the Hanna Recreation Center board can meet together.
Of the three‑person Friends board, only one member, Katrina Powell, was present at Monday’s meeting. When asked about the status of the organization’s 501(c)(3) application, Powell said Dorn Hetzel had recently applied. Mayor George mentioned the pending application as another reason the decision was delayed.
The Hanna Town Council unanimously voted to table approval of Hetzel’s proposal to assume oversight of the Hanna Recreation Center. No date has been set for a decision.
