Supporters seek help in securing funding for Yaak Community Hall
Yaak Community Hall supporters are petitioning the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners for help in repairing the building’s aging foundation.
Robyn King, a member of the community hall’s board of directors, told county commissioners Jan. 5 that she and her compatriots were looking at securing grants to alleviate the sinking foundation. To do so, though, they would need the county to act as a fiscal sponsor.
“We’ve got a lot of opportunities to go after, but we’ve got to get that piece done,” King told commissioners.
As for possible grants, King pointed to the possibility of getting help from a group aimed at connecting communities to rural development funds given out by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. King said supporters had identified other foundations for possible aid and started work on fundraising efforts.
“We have some good leads,” she said. “We’ve got some really good fundraising plans, but we just need a business sponsor.”
Commissioners signaled they were open to aiding the group, which is not a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, but cautioned King against roping the county into any financial risk. County Commissioner Jerry Bennett (D-2) warned King about going after any grants that might have clawback provisions, or clauses requiring repayment under certain scenarios. He has given a similar warning to other groups appearing before the board seeking aid in recent months.
“We’ve run into that with a grant in the past — we had to go back after money and stuff — so we avoid those like the plague,” Bennett said. “We just don’t want to get into those. When you’re looking at different grants, the county is not going to sign anything that leaves us on the hook.”
Bennett asked King to provide a memorandum of understanding between the county and her organization in the coming weeks. He also suggested the board of directors find a grant manager as county employees already are juggling multiple grants.
Once they received the memorandum, commissioners could ask County Attorney Marcia Boris to review he document, Bennett said.
According to a letter submitted to commissioners outlining the project, the foundation repair work would run — as of 2016 — about $55,000. Supporters are seeking an updated cost estimate.
Following a building project launched by the Yaak Community Association in 1924, the hall opened for its first dance on July 4, 1925. Since then, the hall has hosted a variety of events, including weddings, timber sales, memorial services and school plays.
“In addition, classes on CPR and AED are held yearly and the hall is available for emergency meetings such as fire updates and evacuations, various weather disasters, a central and convenient drop place for the local food pantry and, if needed, emergency shelter,” the letter reads. “The local Yaak community members take great pride in and support the Yaak Community Hall. It brings the community together in a safe, inclusive environment.”
“It is a great, neutral spot for us to have all kinds of meetings,” King said of the hall.
The letter notes that the hall is supported via membership fees and through rental fees, both for the hall and for freezer space. While that money covers annual operational costs, the revenue will not fund foundation repair, according to the missive.