Washington tables YMCA funding agreement

WASHINGTON — City council members tabled action on funding agreements with the Washington YMCA on the city pool. The proposal would gradually raise the city’s annual contribution to the Y for pool management, with the eventual goal of a $13,000 a year contribution by 2025. The rate is currently $3,000 a year.

City Administrator Deanna McCusker said the proposed changes made sense.

“After reviewing the cost to have a manager, and if we were going to pay for that manager, I think the $13,000 is very reasonable,” she said.

Some council members were skeptical, however.

“In a matter of three years, they’re going to get more than 300% of the pay for the same job,” Council Member Fran Stigers said.

Those involved in negotiations, including Mayor Jaron Rosien, said they were surprised, and had expected the vote to be a non-issue.

“I was under the impression that this came to the agenda with a one-on-one meeting with Deanna and every councilor, and that we were good to put this on the agenda,” Rosien said. “If that’s not the case, I would prefer that we take more time (rather) than it fail.”

McCusker said those meetings had occurred, but Council Member Illa Earnest said she hadn’t heard about the plan. Council Members Elaine Moore and Steve Gault said they also wanted more time before making a decision.

While a motion to approve the changes was made and seconded, Rosien said he was “not acknowledging it” in favor of a motion to table, instead.

“I’m not going to entertain a motion to pass,” he said. “I don’t want to see us pass this on a split vote, which would fail, or a 4-2. I want us all to be on the same page, and that seems to require tabling.”

Council members voted unanimously to table despite the other motion on the floor, something Rosien said he was grateful for.

“I appreciate those that voted in favor also voted to table, taking … into account other councilors’ considerations,” he said. “We will put this on the next meeting and do some work between now and then.”

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com