A century ago, the front of the Humboldt senior center was nothing but glass. Natural light flooded in. THE REQUEST CAUGHT commissioners at a less than opportune time. WORKS gave a short tutorial.
Inside then was City Market, where domestic meats laid in cases next to venison, duck, quail, and prairie chicken.
Paul Finney and other members of Humboldt’s Downtown Action Committee requested Allen County commissioners Tuesday morning to restore the front of the building to its look of 1900. For just $35,000 —$38,000 at the most — the front of the building could look just as then, Finney said.
As the committee’s spokesman, Finney said the sum included restoration of windows at $10,000, expansive awning another $10,000, and the replacement of some of the current windows as well as brick work would take another $18,000.
“It really needs to be done,” Finney observed. “It would transform that block, as well as downtown,” and be a catalyst that DAT members think would encourage private owners to follow suit.
“We just finished the bandstand,” with dedication Saturday, Finney said. “We’re trying to bring up downtown and that will bring up all of Humboldt.”
Why is it the county’s responsibility, asked Commission Chairman Dick Works.
“Because you own it,” Finney said.
Walter Wulf Jr., in supporting testimony, allowed that “what was modern in the 1950s, looks dated today. The original front would look less dated and better.”
Buildings on the east side of the Humboldt square have been upgraded and returned to their original design, as has one on the north side by Wayne Smith. Monarch Cement and B&W Trailer Hitches, Humboldt’s flagship industries, chipped in to help with the bandstand’s restoration.
Finney said DAT members think a move by the county would lead to private owners joining in and Humboldt’s downtown business district eventually being a showplace that would draw visitors and lead some to consider the town as a permanent destination.
At the beginning of Tuesday’s meeting they mulled over revenue that today is $700,000 short of meeting expenditures budgeted for the remainder of the year.
About $1.8 million is projected for expenditures while revenue sits at $1.1 million.
Reasons for the shortfall are a mystery.
“Lots of things could be the cause,” Works said, “We just haven’t been able to identify them. It’s a little scary.”
Delinquent property taxes could be part of the reason, Works said, “but not all of it.”
With revenue concerns on their minds, commissioners weren’t eager to tap into funds set aside for the five senior centers the county maintains in Iola, Humboldt, Moran, LaHarpe and Savonburg. Budgeted expenditures this year for the senior centers were about $62,000, which will roll over to a similar amount in 2013.
Commissioners noted it was important to hold some money in reserve.
David Toland, Thrive Allen County executive director who has purchased and remodeled two buildings in downtown Iola, pushed the point, saying he thought the upgrade would be encouragement for the private sector in that part of Humboldt’s downtown to join the restoration parade.
“Look down the road,” he urged commissioners. “Valuations and rent will go up, so will tax revenue.”
He also predicted that with more attractive settings, residents would be more apt to walk and exercise, which would meet part of Thrive’s goal of making the county’s residents healthier.
“You have a chance to fill a piece of the puzzle and make Humboldt more vibrant,” Toland said.
Commissioners Rob Francis said he thought the building’s restoration would occur “when we can work it in the budget,” but Works was ever the pragmatist, recalling that when DAT came earlier to the commission, its members talked in terms of $15,000 to restore the building.
“Now it’s $35,000 to $38,000 and when it’s done it will probably be more,” he said.
“The county is responsible for health and safety” of its residents, “and public works,” Works said. “This looks more like historical preservation and economic development. It’s hard to justify as a county project.”
That led Finney to propose removing tin from the building’s second floor front and restoration as the initial project.
Toland wondered if, as a means of saving money, county Public Works Department crews might remove the tin from the second floor, so that a contractor could tackle its facade immediately.
A phased approach intrigued commissioners, but didn’t loosen their purse strings.
Commissioner Gary McIntosh’s conclusion that he would “have to take a close look at the budget” summed up their consensus.
Little traction for Humboldt project
