Old Town Hall Rejuvenation Society

Reporting to the Odessa Town Council on May 9, Lise Ott, chair of the Old Town Hall Rejuvenation Society said that after struggling for a year or so to keep the group together, a group of knowledgeable and energetic people has come together to assist with the project. Faye King serves as the secretary/treasurer, and the other members are Marlene Kramer, Nancy Smith, Paul Scheller, Kathy Ratkowski, Terria Smith and Lynn Allen.

Ott says the group is still hoping to find a member who has grant-writing experience.

The project plan has been revised to fit with current funding levels, so the exterior facelift is going to take longer than originally hoped.

Thanks to the Odessa Lions Club, a new concrete ADA-compliant ramp is being installed at the east entrance to the building.

The Rejuvenation Society hopes for assistance from the Historical Society to repair a roof leak above the former library. The proposal is to remove the chimney which has caused the problem to below roof level and replace the section of metal roof. The Historical Society's Paul Scheller has done some research on the cost, but the group must first make sure that the chimney is no longer in use.

The indoor yard sale Spring Fling weekend added nearly $2,800 to the group's beginning fund of just over $4,000. Both main-floor rooms were filled with items. Prior to the sale, the committee had decided to spend the proceeds on a dining room makeover. Committee members who worked the sale reported that the level of support seen from the community indicates a great deal of interest in the Old Town Hall rejuvenation project.

A minor glitch occurred at the end of the sale when Gary Smith's pickup broke down, meaning that the last items left over could not be removed until Wednesday morning. They were picked up by 8:30 a.m., and a conversation with senior meals cook Barbara Walter at the time indicated no interference with her preparations.

The makeover will include painting the walls a neutral taupe, using three shades to make the space seem cozier. We are currently looking for a professional to apply the paint, as we want it to be consistent throughout.

The makeover will also include new tables and chairs in the dining room. Blow-molded plastic banquet tables and stackable metal and fabric banquet chairs, along with new table coverings will make the space much more flexible. The plastic tables can withstand pretty much anything, and the best part is that they can be set up or taken down by one person if necessary. All tables and chairs would be in a light gray to charcoal gray color range to make them as easy as possible to decorate for different occasions. Plans are to begin with 30x96" (8-foot) rectangular tables and 50 new chairs. As funds are available, several round tables and padded folding chairs will be added to supplement the banquet chairs.

It is hoped that funds will also stretch to cover minor repairs to the kitchen. Ott said the kitchen badly needed new countertops, and the cabinets needed paint.

The group has received a great deal of advice and a great many compliments on their progress. Members have also heard more than a few complaints about the facility, mostly dealing with the cleanliness of the space. The group spent quite a bit of time removing cobwebs from the walls, ceilings and windows, both interior and exterior, as well as removing debris and litter from around the exterior.

"That being said, our primary purpose is to upgrade the building itself, not function as housekeepers," said Ott. "We are willing to work hard to make improvements to the building that will enhance its desirability as a venue and improve energy efficiency to a point where it is no longer such a drain on town resources. We are asking for a commitment from the town to ensure that once improvements are made, the building will be maintained in an appropriate manner."

Ott went on to say that the group felt there was a "disconnect" between the Town of Odessa as owner of the building and those volunteers dedicated to renewing it. Members checking the building just prior to scheduled events have discovered unswept floors and dirty bathrooms.

"We didn't sign up to be housekeepers, but could do the job if necessary," she said. "We just need to be informed of when the building is scheduled to be used. As increased use leads to increased revenue, we would expect the town to ensure that the facility is in peak condition whenever and event is scheduled."

The group meets the first Tuesday of each month in the Old Town Hall dining room at 5 p.m., and anyone is welcome to attend.