Lee County Supervisors have made it clear they do not want to be in the rental business and the next county-owned property in their crosshairs seems to be the Newberry Center, located at 728 Ave. G in Fort Madison.
The center has been the gathering place for older residents for decades, although COVID prompted the disbandment of the senior group’s board of directors. The center is still used as a Meals on Wheels distribution point for senior meals, prepared at the Heritage Center in Keokuk., and the upstairs is leased to UFCW Local 617.
A recent report from the state auditor stated the county must pay property taxes on any leased property from which the county collects revenue. This, and the fact that the union’s lease expires in August, prompted supervisors to ask the county’s Building Study Committee for a recommendation.
At Monday’s meeting, Recorder Nancy Booten presented that recommendation, which was that the county rid itself of the property and in the meantime lease the upstairs to the union on a month-to-month basis. She said Milestones on Aging could relocate its meal distribution to another location, perhaps a local church.
Booten said the committee found the Newberry Center property is easily costing the county $30,000 to $40,000 plus a year.
“That’s a part-time employee we could save,” Booten said, referring to the supervisors need to lower the county’s levy by 2029 in accordance with a state mandate.
“Why are we in the rental business anyway? There are numerous vacant properties there whose owners would love to have the union’s business,” said Supervisor Chuck Holmes.
Further, Booten said having repairs and improvements done by an outside entity, such as union members, presents liability issues for the county.
Union representative Penny Logsdon has told supervisors the union has contributed greatly to the property, in addition to just paying the $400 per month rent. She said the group has replaced carpet, flooring, and seen to other needs at the building.
Much of the discussion Monday that followed was to what extent the main floor of the Newberry Center is being used. Auditor Denise Fraise said the senior organization that held activities there has disbanded, but Supervisor Tom Schulz said his observations indicate the center is a viable site for the older set to socialize and be active.
“I gotta tell you, I’m uneasy about this on a couple levels. I think the representation of how that building is utilized is absolutely not right. It’s not just a couple of people. I’ve been in there on a fairly regular basis and there’s a number of people in there a lot. I know they do dance classes there, they do bingo there, they do a whole lot of things.”
But Fraise said the bingo machine broke years ago and without the senior organization in place, bingo games stopped.
“But at some point, we have to take care of those people that don’t have another place to go,” Schulz added.
Supervisor Matt Pflug that older residents should be provided a place to gather and socialize.
“At the Heritage Center in Keokuk, it’s the same scenario. A lot of those people look forward to that every day, getting together and, if we off load that property now, we sit with possibly an empty shell with nothing happening,” Pflug said.
Schulz said the union’s $4,800 per year in rent, after loosely estimated taxes of $2,600, only leaves $2,200 that is not enough to cover insurance and utilities.
County Attorney Ross Braden said the supervisors could accept sealed bids for the property or opt to donate it to a nonprofit so long as it would be used for the public’s good.
Supervisor Ron Fedler said the building should be put up for sale and the union’s lease be renewed, however Holmes said the monthly rental amount should be increased to $700.
Supervisor Chairman Garry Seyb said he would like to hear from the public as what the senior community needs and how much the center is actually used.
“I like this discussion. This is exactly what the county needs when it comes to discussing the buildings – what’s it costing us… what’s happening in the building,” Seyb said.
Schulz too said citizens should have input and to that end is holding a town hall meeting devoted to the subject at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 31, at the Newberry Center.
