Residents and Board Members Press City for Leu Civic Center Ownership Transfer

Mascoutah – A large crowd attended the Feb. 17, 2026 Mascoutah City Council meeting, where the future of the Leu Civic Center dominated the public comment period and later discussion among council members.

During public comment, longtime resident Rick Surmier expressed alarm over the current status of the Civic Center building at 213 N. Market, particularly concerns that an accident could occur on the property while the city carried no insurance on the structure. Surmier said he recently toured the building and was surprised by its condition, stating that it was structurally sound and had held up well despite its age. He questioned why basic maintenance such as tuck-pointing had not been performed by the city over the years and decades past, and criticized the plan to move activities out of the building. Surmier urged the city to transfer ownership of the Civic Center to the nonprofit organization, similar to how the Mascoutah Public Library had previously been granted its building. He concluded that the city should “move ahead, sell the building to the civic center organization, then focus on the fire house.”

Mary Price, a member of the Civic Center board, spoke next. She announced her work on a new initiative called “Family Fun Finders,” a project aimed at creating a community-wide calendar that consolidates activities and events across the region. Price said she hopes the effort will reveal service gaps, especially during the summer months and for children who depend on programs like those operated at the Leu Civic Center.

Ben Grodeon, speaking on behalf of the Civic Center Board of Directors, delivered a prepared statement thanking the city for its decades of support while acknowledging the challenges posed by the city’s decision to set a May 29, 2026 exit date for the center to vacate the building. Grodeon credited Council-appointed liaisons Councilman Steve Beimfohr and Councilman Mike Voegele, along with Executive Director Jenna Smith, for working diligently to explore relocation options. While the task force identified potential temporary locations, none were viable for maintaining the full range of youth programs currently offered.

Grodeon detailed a formal proposal from the board for the city to transfer the historic building to the Civic Center for a nominal cost. He noted that the city had followed a similar path in 2014 when it transferred its former municipal building at 3 W. Church Street to the Mascoutah Public Library. The Civic Center proposal is contingent on the results of the structural engineering assessment currently underway. If transferred, the center would take full responsibility for repairs and future maintenance, relying on community fundraising and private support.

According to Grodeon, ownership of the building by the Civic Center would keep all existing programs intact, preserve a historic community site, and remove ongoing maintenance and operational costs from the city. He noted that the center’s nonprofit structure would allow continued access to roughly $90,000 per year in United Way funding, something the city cannot receive if it takes direct ownership of youth programs. He also emphasized that transferring the building would save the city a “multi-million dollar” capital commitment that would be required for a new recreation center, along with an estimated $250,000 in annual operating expenses. He closed by saying the Civic Center is not seeking to profit from the property and would support giving the city first right of refusal at the same nominal price should the center ever be unable to continue its mission.

Later in the meeting under council discussion, Councilman Voegele questioned why he and Councilman Beimfohr, who were appointed as council liaisons to the Civic Center, were not notified about the structural integrity investigation that is currently being performed on the building. Mayor Wally Battas responded that the oversight was his and that he believed he had informed them.

No final decisions were made regarding ownership or relocation. The matter is expected to return at a future meeting.

A complete account of the full meeting can be found in our weekly print edition of The Herald.