Bryson discusses future of senior center

BRYSON – Bryson Senior Center officials here are looking for the city to take over operations of the facility.

Billy Rhone, pastor of First Baptist Church, spoke of the center’s woes during a regular meeting July 15. The church, which had for all intents and purposes been operating the center, can no longer afford to do so. Rhone said a recent $400 air conditioning repair and lack of use has cut the center’s bank balance to around $200.

That, along with the center needing a major uplift in the form of ADA bathroom renovations as well as floor and ceiling repairs, has put the center in danger of closing. Rhone said the center is not used much, except for the occasional birthday party or other event.

Most of the center’s funds come in the form of donations from Jack County in the form of $75 a month. Rhone said the bills run about $160 a month with the city not charging the center for water or sewer. Rhone gave a rough estimate of needing another $100 a month to keep the facility open plus the eventual renovations.

Rhone said if the center were to close, it would go back to the City automatically.

“We’d like to see it become a ministry of the churches, which all three churches are supposed to have board members on it anyway,” Rhone said. “We don’t have a board right now as everyone has either resigned or left.”

Suggestions such as donations in the back of local churches or having fundraisers were given. Mayor Sheila Birdwell said times are tough.

“If they’d asked five years ago, we could have done it easily,” Birdwell said. “With Graham and Jacksboro going wet, it has cut our sales tax revenue.”

Birdwell later asked City Secretary Trish Shifflett to contact the city auditor to look into the legality of the city taking over the center. A decision on the center’s future is expected at the August meeting.