LAWTON — Comanche County will not use pandemic relief dollars to replace the old American Legion building near the Medicine Park exit on Interstate 44.
The Comanche County Board of Commissioners voted 3-0 April 17 to take the project off the county’s list of items that will be funded with American Rescue Plan Act money. The county had earmarked $1 million for the project, which will be put back into the pot of ARPA money that has not been allocated yet.
The American Legion building, which was used by groups including the Wichita Mountains Area Senior Center, was destroyed by fire in February 2019. Three years later, the commission decided to use part of the county’s ARPA money to build a new senior center at the site.
Under federal regulations, local governments may use ARPA funds to help nonprofits that have experienced financial hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The rules allow local governments to provide assistance in the form of grants or loans to ease the nonprofits’ financial burdens, including payroll and benefits costs.
The Norman-based law firm of Floyd and Driver, which is advising the county on ARPA-related spending, determined that the senior center could qualify for assistance because the organization had experienced economic hardship due to the pandemic. However, the firm said the county needed more information before it could earmark funds for a new senior center.
“While it is possible that this project could qualify for ARPA funds, we currently have insufficient information about how a new facility addresses the economic hardships experienced by the senior center,” the firm said in an April 21 letter to the commission, a copy of which was obtained by Southwest Ledger. “Until additional, detailed information that answers this and other questions, it is our recommendation that no ARPA funds be awarded.”
A ‘disappointing end’
Tom Spears, a representative of the Wichita Mountains Area Senior Citizens Association, told the commissioners he was unhappy with their decision.
“This is a very disappointing end to your promises,” he said.
Commissioner John O’Brien said he and Spears had discussed the issue several times since O’Brien took office in early 2023.
“As far as moving forward with something for you all, I know we talked about some things in Elgin you said might be able to work for you,” O’Brien said.
Commissioner Josh Powers said the commission would keep working with the senior citizens association on finding a solution.
“Just because this particular item is being removed off the ARPA list doesn’t mean that our conversations with you are going to stop,” he said. “We’ll continue on.”
In a related development, the commission did not renew a concession agreement with the senior citizens association for the American Legion site since the building no longer exists.
The commission must decide whether to retain a water meter at the site, which is currently maintained by the senior citizens association, Spears said. He said the association will make its last payment on the meter at the end of this month, and the county will need to make arrangements to keep the meter if officials do not want to pay a reconnection fee.
Spears also noted that the county has pledged to maintain American Legion Park at the site as a county park. He said if the commissioners decides to stop maintaining the park, they must notify the National Park Service.
“Unless it is continued as a park, you’ll be in violation of the quitclaim deed they gave us back in the early ‘80s, late ‘70s,” Spears said. “They will reclaim that land through the National Park Service.”
Powers said the commission would have to look into that issue.