MRSK Buildings is continuing its move to its new shop space after acquiring the now-former Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1980 facility last fall.
According to an update from MRSK owner Jeff Hodges, a lot of work has been done in the past few months to prepare the space for the work ahead.
That said, Hodges tells KVOE News there is no exact date for when the building at 932 Graphic Arts will be up and running for production, with Hodges saying they are anticipating the renovation and prep work taking up to two years to complete. Once it is up and running, however, Hodges says clients and residents won’t notice much of a difference in service, as operations will continue as they have for years.
Although Hodges says the company itself will see a major difference in convenience and efficiency, noting that the new shop will be much closer to their offices than their current shop space on North Kansas Highway 99.
MRSK purchased and closed on the building back in October after the VFW had to sell the space, a decision made the prior spring, due largely to financial issues dating back 11 years. The post went through four years between 2014 and 2018 where employee taxes weren’t paid to the Internal Revenue Service as mandated.
Besides the decision to close the post, part of the aftermath from that period included a loss of non-profit status for Post 1980. Sickler says the Internal Revenue Service had been studying the case briefly before closing it. It may take up to a year for the IRS to restore nonprofit status if it decides to reopen the VFW case.
Post Commander Phil Sickler has stated the VFW is remaining active in the local community, providing support to local veterans and, at last word, is looking for a new home with plans to use proceeds from the building purchase by MRSK for that venture. KVOE News reached out to Sickler for an update on those efforts and is awaiting a response at this time.
