A revamped board of trustees has a plan for keeping the financially strapped East Grand Forks Eagles Club running.
"We're not locking our doors at the end of the month, which is the big rumor going around," spokesman Kurt Gamache said.
Gamache, one of three new trustees on the five-member board, said the club needs to make about $50,000 to escape fiscal hot water. Mel Halverson and Darrel Beauchamp are other new trustees, along with holdovers Rick Rygg and Dave Knepper.
At a meeting earlier this month, about 350 members heard that the club owes about $20,000 in property taxes and $9,000 in fraternal dues and needs $4,750 for the liquor license and $3,500 insurance. Because the property taxes weren't paid, the lender began the foreclosure process and increased the club's mortgage interest rate from 5.2 percent to 10.2 percent. That left the club also behind on its mortgage payments
Gamache said the club has money to pay for the liquor license and insurance, while gaming proceeds will help to pay property taxes.
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Plan details are:
- The trustees will manage the bar, thereby saving a manager's salary, and hire all new bar staff.
- Other volunteer help.
- Fundraising events.
- Offer meals out of the kitchen, which is now used only for special events.
- Extend hours from its current 2:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
- Seek the $35 annual dues from members. Notices to delinquent members haven't been mailed for several months, Gamache said.
- Actively seek new members and encourage current members to use the facility more.
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The Eagles has 574 members, almost a 40 percent drop from eight years ago.
"Our first goal is to clean the place up," Gamache said. "It's not filthy, but it's not presentable. By doing that, we hope people will come back and give us another chance.
"From our meetings, we believe there's a lot of interest in keeping it going."
The club owes $400,000 to $500,000 on the building, which was constructed for $1 million. "We can't let it go for less than half its worth," Gamache said.
Reach Bakken at (701) 780-1125; (800) 477-6572, ext. 125; or send e-mail to rbakken@gfherald.com .
