Chickasaw Event Center Losing Money, In Need of Repairs

The Chickasaw Event Center in New Hampton is only 22-years-old, but it’s showing its age in a variety of ways.

Board of Directors President Chip Schwickerath addressed various facility issues during Monday’s (12.16) Chickasaw County Supervisors meeting. In addition to needing a new roof, the Center has required a recent furnace replacement, it’s too expensive to continue repairing their walk-in cooler, and they also discovered the insulation in the rafters is inadequate.

Schwickerath also noted that funding sources for the Center have also been reduced, such as the Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging.

Schwickerath said they are trying to increase revenues.

Schwickerath noted that they’re not losing as much money as when they still offered The Chassis public transit, which was losing $3,000 a month.

Schwickerath asked Supervisors for $7,000 for the next fiscal year, but he’ll continue to explore fundraising options. He’s also approached Veterans Affairs and the American Legion Fae Stine Post 38 to consider moving in to help share costs, while also providing a more handicap-accessible facility to veterans.

Supervisors took no action on Schwickerath’s budget request.