City council denies YMCA fundraising extension for indoor aquatic facility
By Leah Rainwater
Monday night’s city council meeting saw a 7-2 vote to withdraw a fundraising extension for the YMCA’s plans for a new indoor aquatic facility, solidifying the project’s deadline as the end of 2024.
With an original fundraising deadline of the end of the year, the extension request would have moved the deadline to April 1, 2025.
“The reason for the 90-day extension, which I’ve been discussing since the summer when I found out that a large grant that I was going after had closed by the time I received the resolution from city council,” St. Joseph YMCA CEO Tammy Killin said, during Monday night’s meeting. “That (grant) does not open back up until December, and so therefore, I would need some time, not only for that application, but to hear back.”
The YMCA has already secured $9.3 million in funds for the estimated $14 million cost of the indoor aquatic facility.
The estimation comes from selected Al J. Mueller Construction to lead the design-build team with Ellison-Auxier Architects designing the facility.
The city pledged $7 million of the funds already for the new facility if the YMCA can secure the rest of the funds.
“I believe within that time frame (April 1) that we would be able to secure the funds,” said Killin during the meeting. “But we would not be able to secure the funds given a December deadline.”
During the withdrawal discussion, the St. Joseph mayor proposed a work session for more discussion.
“Let’s pull it, have a work session,” said Mayor John Josendale. “Let them come in explain the details they have and then from that, we can decide.”
The fundraising extension was denied by council. However, Interim City Manager Clint Thompson said the city will work with the YMCA to ensure it has the funds by the end of the year.
“Vote by council was to withdraw that request,” said Thompson. “We will, again, work with the Y to decide if there is an opportunity to have that funding in place by the end of the year, but also to develop the actual budget before the anticipated project.”
During Monday night’s meeting, Killin said the YMCA is expected to have renderings of the new indoor aquatic facility this week and an itemized budget to follow.
