Kiowa County Council on Aging (KCCA) board member Bethel Thronesbery told The Signal Friday morning all eight current members of the board not only met at this home the night before, but decided to “search for a new property” in Greensburg on which a new Senior Center can be constructed.
After being denied permission by the local Planning Commission and then the Greensburg City Council to erect a new center at the 823 South Main site the KCCA had recently purchased, the group briefly considered reexamining the possibility of using the new Masonic Temple being built along US 54 on the site of the former Dillons Supermarket. That reconsideration was prompted by an unnamed, third party offering Wednesday to act as an intermediary between the Masons and KCCA to work out an understanding of dual use of the facility.
Thronesbery said the board quickly determined Thursday night, however, that using the Masonic facility was not a viable option for them.
“We just can’t see how that would work out for us,” Thronesbery said Friday morning. “We’ve got to be pretty independent in order to operate the senior center like it needs to be done. Nothing against the Masons, but we need to have our own place.”
Thronesbery made clear the KCCA is looking only at property in Greensburg, despite recent rumors the group was considering relocating in either Haviland or Mullinville.
“It’s (Greensburg) the center of the county and that’s where we need to be,” Thronesbery said.
He went on to say the KCCA board discussed “four or five” properties Thursday they know are for sale, and that members Geneva Spicer, Don Hutton and Vic Philpott are currently “tracking down owners and getting numbers.” Thronesbery added the properties are either on or near the current US 54.
Asked if he hoped to have the board reconvene to make a decision on a new site before Christmas, Thronesbery said, “You bet, and I hope we can meet again within a week. We’re ready to go forward with this.”
Greensburg, KS —
