County contributes to YMCA indoor pool project
By Chris Fortune
A Buchanan County official gave the green light to contribute funds to the YMCA for its indoor pool project.
In August, Presiding Commissioner Scott Nelson approved a $500,000 contribution over three years from economic development funding starting in 2024 and ending in 2026. An additional $100,000 will go toward pool operations for two years starting in 2026.
Buchanan County Commissioners Scott Burnham and Ron Hook abstained from the vote because Burnham’s wife serves on the YMCA volunteer board and Hook serves on the board.
“(Ron Hook) kind of knew what was going on that the YMCA was being asked to take over the indoor pool facility issue for the city,” Nelson said.
Nelson said St. Joseph YMCA CEO Tammy Killin visited the county commission to share more details on how the project would proceed and see how much the county would be willing to contribute.
“The thing that really got her moving was that the city put, for lack of a better term, a time limit on you need to you need to get your funding by the end of the year,” Nelson said.
News-Press NOW previously reported the city’s intention to contribute up to $7 million for the indoor pool project if the YMCA can secure the rest of the funding by the end of 2024. Nelson is unsure precisely how much the project will cost, but he said he believes it falls within the $10 million to $12 million range.
A pool at the YMCA would be convenient for St. Joseph resident Michael Robins, who has been a member of the YMCA since 1995.
“I need aqua rehab for an injury I had, and I finally found a pool at Genesis,” he said.”
Robins said an indoor pool at the YMCA would fulfill a need for the community after the Downtown location closed nearly four years ago.
“I realize some of the hotels have pools that’s usually for guests only, so this would be a quasi-public pool and it would really benefit the community,” he said.
