The VFW Hall In Need of Repairs Commander Tells La Grange City Council
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La Grange veterans groups say their meeting space – the Cityowned VFW Hall – needs some major repairs. Photo by Andy Behlen -
A piece of siding is missing from the wall near the entrance to the VFW Hall – an unsightly though relatively minor issue compared to the foundation and roof problems. -
The La Grange VFW Hall relies on multiple window units for cooling and heat. Some of them look as though they’re about to fall out of the window.
needs some repairs.
VFW Post 5254 Commander Richard Gray addressed the La Grange City Council last Monday night about the problems at the hall, which is owned by the City.
Gray tried telling the Council how the building has fallen into disrepair since the City purchased it in 2016. He started by mentioning the large number of veterans in the local population and the community’s strong support for veterans. Then he turned to the poor condition of the La Grange VFW Hall and the City’s responsibility to maintain it.
But he didn’t get much time to speak – only three minutes, as stipulated by the City Council’s policy on comments from the public. The Record sat down with Gray for an interview last Thursday to hear the rest of his concerns.
“Just look at it,” Gray said. “There’s chunks of siding missing.”
The City purchased the hall from the VFW Post back in 2016.
At that time, the City entered into a lease agreement with the VFW and the other Veterans groups that use the hall – VFW 5254 Auxiliary, American Legion Post 102 and Auxiliary, along with Marine Corps League Colorado Valley Detachment 1028. Gray said under the current agreement, those groups may use the hall at specified times rent-free and the City may lease the hall at other times and keep all the rental proceeds, but the City is supposed to maintain the building and provide for repairs.
Gray said the building needs foundation repairs. Part of the roof is flat enough for water to seep in. Much of the electrical system is ungrounded, he said, which causes equipment damage during lighting storms. The building could use a new heating and air conditioning system, he said. It currently relies on several window units for heating and cooling. The City pays for the building’s utilities, so a new, more efficient central air system would be in the City’s interest, he said.
Gray said he has tried notifying the City about these issues, but he has gotten no response.
“I can’t get any indication whether they care to get anything fixed up there,” Gray said. “We’re at our wits end.”
Gray said the veterans groups have wanted to buy a new commercial refrigerator for the hall, but they haven’t done so over worries that the ungrounded wiring will damage it.
“I don’t want to spend $5,000 to $10,000 on a new commercial refrigerator just to have it messed up in a month or two Gray credited the City for consistently upholding one term of the lease: replacing the hall’s American flag when it becomes worn.
“That is the one thing under this lease they have been very responsive to,” Gray said. “Every time we call them about the flag, by the next day they usually get us a new flag.”
Just a few weeks ago, Gray said he was at the hall for a meeting when a couple came by the hall to inquire about renting it for a family reunion.
“They said, ‘We’re glad we caught you because we wanted to rent this place, but we thought it would be a lot nicer,” Gray said. “That’s not our responsibility. But when you look at the hall, everything on it says VFW. What are people going to think?
“The only thing there that indicates the City, and it really doesn’t, is the phone number to call for rentals,” Gray said.
Gray said he sent an email back in June asking the City to address the needed repairs. After not hearing back from anyone, Gray said he decided to speak at Monday’s City Council meeting. Several fellow post and auxiliary members attended the meeting.
“I didn’t really want it to be a matter for the City Council,” he added. “There are people with authority, people who control the money, and they know there’s an obligation to support this. Why does it have to go to the City Council?”
At the end of his brief comments at Monday’s City Council meeting, Gray said, “Our name is all over that building. It makes us look terrible.”
After Gray’s remarks at the meeting, City Manager Jack Thompson said City staff have visited with contractors to collect cost estimates for some of the repairs.
“We’re waiting to get some of those costs ironed out,” Thompson said at the meeting. “Unfortunately, it’s a long list. It’s probably going to be an expensive bill. We’re looking at taking that into account.”
Several Council members asked about the contract and what the City’s responsibilities are.
“There’s documentation that sets out the responsibilities of each party,” said City Attorney Angela Beck.
The Council took no action on the matter at the meeting since it was not on the agenda.