There is work underway to return the Fresh Start Shelter in Geary County to operation. The facility at 136 W. 3rd Street has been closed for some time but new board member Linda Gibson said this week that they are getting the shelter cleaned up, "and making sure that everything is working well in the shelter."
Gibson said the goal is to have a safe and clean environment for people from the community needing a place to stay when they determine a date to open the facility. "We are currently looking for new board members and that's where are right now because we did have a couple board members step down.
Earlier this week the Geary County Commission suspended funding for the shelter. Commissioner Alex Tyson said the facility is going through transitions that commissioners do not feel is beneficial to the county. The county funds the shelter at the rate of $12,000 per year.
Gibson said Shelter officials are hoping to have an opportunity to meet with the county to inform them what they are doing and where they want to go moving forward. Gibson said their goal is to get the shelter open and have the funding to run the facility.