The Iola Senior Citizens Thrift Store is ready to move forward with a building expansion — with or without the county’s help.
Which is just fine with county commissioners.
The county owns the building at 223 N. State St., where the Senior Citizens Inc. group operates a thrift store. The store is bursting at the seams, with little room to maneuver.
For more than a year those with the thrift store have asked the county to help with enlarging the facility.
Annual proceeds from the store — typically about $20,000 — are usually donated to about a dozen area organizations, such as Hope Unlimited, the Pregnancy and Family Center, food pantries, schools and more.
But this year, instead of donating $26,000 in proceeds, the board will direct them to pay for an expansion, board member Joe Hess told county commissioners this week.
He and board member Dimity Lowell asked commissioners if the county planned to chip in. If not, they’ll continue saving, meaning they won’t be able to help other groups, Hess warned. They’ve already turned down pleas for help, he said.
Estimates to build an expansion are $100,000. But Commission Chairman Jerry Daniels said a local contractor told him it would be difficult, if not impossible, to build directly onto the existing building because of the design of the roof. 
At one point, commissioners wanted to pay for the expansion with funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), but other projects took priority and the thrift store expansion was bumped from the list.
Hess said without the county’s help it would take several years at their current rate of setting aside funds to move forward.
Instead of adding on to the current structure, Lowell said the group could purchase a metal building, 50 foot by 16 foot, for around $22,000. Volunteers could do the finishing work, such as insulation and electrical services.
The metal structure would be placed next to the existing building, connected by a hallway pass-through. It also would have a large door to allow for furniture to be moved in and out of the building.
The board recently completed a small renovation that allowed for some extra room in the building, and keep overflow items in small sheds not connected to the main building.
“We appreciate the building you provide for us, and take care of maintenance and utilities. You’ve been great partners with us as we receive donations and make clothes and household items available to those in our community with limited resources,” Hess told commissioners.
“We need a yes or no as to whether a new room could be added on.”
