Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
With the pour of a four-ounce spiced ale to the sound of an old Wallflowers song, the Palouse Community Center moved another step closer to being paid off.
A sold-out Cabin Fever Brewfest last Saturday was the latest marker in the quest to pay the building’s mortgage, started in the summer of 2011 with a $150,000 balance.
It’s now at $60,000.
“We’re about three years ahead of our 10-year mortgage goal,” said John Glass, treasurer for the Palouse Community Center.
With strong fundraising from Haunted Palouse, the Needful Things thrift store and a whole new event since the center was built – the Palouse Cabin Fever Brewfest – the board has voted to make extra payments on the mortgage.
Last year, they renegotiated the building’s loan from 5.5 percent to 4.75 percent.
“We went to the bank and showed them what we’d accomplished,” said Glass.
AmericanWest Bank in Palouse – now Banner Bank – agreed to the change.
Needful Things, the second-hand store in the Community Center’s front space, has also exceeded expectations.
Sales were up 19 percent last year, the fourth year of increases.
“They’re really cranking along,” Glass said, citing the store’s management, displays, cleanliness and overall selection. Proceeds from Needful Things go to operating expenses for the building.
In the four years of the Community Center’s existence, the board has made a few changes to the premises.
Last year, the Palouse Lions Club donated acoustic panels to cut down on the main event room’s tendency to echo.
“That has helped significantly,” said Glass.
Heating is an area they are still working to address.
With bills averaging $450 per month, the board has had original HVAC contractor KTU of Spokane look at it, while Avista did an analysis on how best to manage the thermometers in the building.
“Heating costs are about the only issue we haven’t been able to rectify,” said Glass.
This week, Glass will talk to Avista about software capability connecting to the meter which can track by the minute usage to see where spikes are.
Heating use varies with rentals and weather, with no heat at all used for the Cabin Fever Brewfest last Saturday, as the event is heated by lamps and fire pits within the theme. This year was the fourth consecutive sold-out Brewfest – 475 tickets at $20 each.
Once per year, the Community Center board discusses whether to pay more than is required on the mortgage. With the new interest rate, the required annual payment has dropped from $19,900 to $12,400.
The board decided to keep paying at the $19,900 rate, if not more.
The Community Center’s annual revenues come from four main fundraisers throughout the year; Haunted Palouse, in which money is made from hamburger sales, as well as a percentage of ticket sales; Cabin Fever Brewfest; the beer garden at Palouse Music Festival, and the Palouse Ice Cream Social.
The estimated $550,000 Community Center was built five years ago with $400,000 from fundraising, private donations and a $20,000 grant from the Inland Northwest Community Foundation – for heating and air conditioning.
Further changes to the Community Center property since it opened include an added split-rail fence, a picnic table and landscaping.
This summer, a drip-irrigation system will be installed.
Additional funding for the building comes from five charter organizations which contribute $2,500 per year: Palouse Lions Club, Roundtable, Xenodican Club, Palouse Chamber of Commerce, Palouse Arts Council and Council on Aging.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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