JARRETT GOODMAN
Staff Writer
South Pittsburg’s Board of Mayor & Commissioners recently gave the go ahead to officially take over the lease regarding the American Legion’s Post 62 facility within the town.
During the annual meeting, Rusty Graham and Commander Kim Jordan of the American proposed the lease and ownership of the Legion’s Post 62 facility, located on Elm Avenue, to the city council. Graham explained the reasoning for wanting to do so is due to dwindling numbers in memberships for the Legion in Marion County, as only 48 individuals remain as members. He explained the cause of dwindling numbers is due to memberships being restricted to only those who have served in the military during foreign wars, with the number of veterans who served in past wars additionally dwindling.
“We now have a professional military, and not many people serve in the military. And what happened is that we have gone down from 400 to 48,” said Graham.
He also stated the Legion has had recent issues with handling funding for the facility, adding fuel to the fire which was created by the dwindling number of members for Post 62. Because of both issues, the Legion ultimately decided to turn the facility back over to the city council of South Pittsburg, a move made once before back in 1956 and lasting until 1980. A previous lease agreement was made earlier this year, where the city can lease the structure for 25 years, with a 180-day notice of termination if any change of plan or ownership was being made.
The post 62 facility first opened in 1926, eight years after the end of World War One in November of 1918. The structure over the years served not only as a voting precinct within the city but also as a draft office, public library, and at one point a speech and hearing clinic. The city government also utilized the facility for a variety of purposes in the past such as for city meetings, an idea which Rusty and Commander Jordan hope the city can do once more upon the board taking over the lease.
“What the lease does is that it leases it to the city, its your baby, you pay for everything about it and make it available to us on a limited basis,” added Rusty.
South Pittsburg’s city board agreed to both Rusty and Jordan’s proposal, with the board officially taking full reigns of the facility’s rent and expenses, while also allowing the Legion’s operations to continue within the historic building.