August 21, 2024 |
Photo – Hanna Recreation Center – Bigfoot99 file photo
The town of Hanna is attempting to keep the recreation center functional despite needing extensive repairs. Town officials hope to eventually reopen the facility.
In the early 1980’s, when Hanna was a booming coal town, the mine companies built a large recreation center to attract workers and their families. The Hanna Recreation Center had a heated indoor pool, a weight room, a large gymnasium, and a racquetball court. As the coal mines shut down in the early 2000’s, the town took financial responsibility of the rec center.
The facility was built when Hanna had a population of approximately 3,000 residents. The latest census shows less than 700 people currently live in the former coal mining town.
As the population declined, so too did memberships at the rec center. With fewer and fewer people paying to use the facility, the town was forced to put up the money to keep the building open.
After decades of financial strain on the budget, the Hanna town council voted to close the rec center at the end of July. The building will now be used exclusively for special events, such as serving as the voting site for Hanna residents.
Last Wednesday, Hanna Senior Center Manager Debbie Schasteen invited mayoral and town council candidates to a forum in the Hanna town hall. The fate of the recreation center was the main topic of debate.
During the discussion, Mayor Jayson Nordquist elaborated on why the rec center had to be closed. Nordquist was chosen to serve as mayor after Jon Ostling resigned in May.
Speaking at the August 14th Hanna candidate forum, Mayor Nordquist explained that the town simply could not afford to keep the recreation center open any longer. The mayor said he, and the other council members, had no choice but to close the facility.
A few of the other candidates said if elected, they will search for grants to reopen the shuttered recreation center. Mayor Nordquist said he has personally spent the last three and a half years looking for grants. However, due to the lack of paid memberships, no one is willing to finically support the facility, said the mayor.
Candidates suggested adding a monthly fee to Hanna residents’ water or sewer bills to help fund the recreation center. Mayor Nordquist said the town is unable to legally use the water or sewer funds to pay for the rec center. The mayor said the facility was taking too much money away from other town services.
Last summer, Hanna residents were invited to a public meeting where the town council explained why the rec center was in such dire financial straits. Attendees suggested reaching out to state and federal representatives for funding assistance and creating a non-profit organization to run the rec center.
At the August 14th Hanna candidate forum, Nordquist said former mayor Jon Ostling made many unsuccessful attempts to find alternative funding sources. However, Mayor Nordquist said the facility is simply too large for the town.
Mayor Nordquist said the entire population of Hanna needed to purchase a membership to keep the rec center open. No other recourse existed, but to shut down the facility, said the mayor.
Councilwoman Alice Million said nothing the council or mayor did could have saved the rec center. Councilwoman Million said it was up to Hanna residents to keep the facility open by purchasing memberships.
Mayor Nordquist said the equipment in the recreation center is over 40 years old.
The mayor said he chose to close the facility when he did to prevent further damage. Replacing all the outdated equipment in the rec center will cost roughly $1.5 million, said Mayor Nordquist.
Mayor Nordquist said that total does not include the cost of repairs needed to reopen the facility’s heated indoor pool.
To save money, the facility will not be heated in the winter. However, Mayor Nordquist said he plans to offer summer activities in rec center. The mayor said he won’t completely abandon the building.
