Don Ihnken, post commander of VFW Post 9599, told the county board of supervisors that the post is nearly finished repairing and remodeling its building, and that the building will re-open in another few weeks. “People aren’t going to believe what they see on the inside,” Ihnken said.
The building has been closed since last winter after the discovery of black mold caused health concerns. The post has been unable to hold its monthly fundraising dinners and has turned to businesses and community organizations for help in paying for the repair.
Ihnken told the supervisors that the cause of the black mold was discovered only a few weeks ago. He said a storm drain on the east side of the building has been plugged since the city’s streetscape project in 2012, causing the basement to take on water with every large rainfall. A sump pump was recently installed. Ihnken plans to talk with city officials about the situation.
Ihnken in August asked the supervisors for $15,000 in funding for a new 4-inch rubber roof for the building. He said the current roof was improperly constructed and that a heavy snowfall might cause the roof to leak again. The supervisors had given the VFW $5,000 in Dreyfus funds in FY ’14, and agreed to another $5,000 of the requested $15,000 in FY ’15.
The roof project is at a standstill, Ihnken told the supervisors, as the post has not yet raised the rest of the funds needed. Ihnken said that repairs done on the roof during the summer have held, and he hopes that continues until the funds are available.
Bingo will be started on a trial basis once the building opens again. According to Ihnken, it takes 20 players a week to make bingo viable. “We’ll do it for a month or so, and hopefully people will come,” he said.
The hall will also be available to the public for rent at the cost of $75 per day. To find the post’s new Facebook page, click here: VFW Post 9599
