Focusing on facts

June 27, 2016

Washington, Iowa

Dear Editor:

I am thrilled to live in a community like Washington, where interest runs high in when, where and whether a new Washington County YMCA should be built. I am also concerned that this lively debate is not fueled by mere emotions. We all need to live in peace with the result of the upcoming bond vote and the Y?s building campaign.

The best way to keep emotions from clouding clear thinking is to focus on facts. One writer asked why the Y would want to build a new building smaller than its current facility. This is a great, logical question. There are several answers. First, the new building won?t house the Y day care. That?s 2,400 square feet of the current facility. The Y day care will lease 3,600 square feet in the new Stewart School wing. A new building will make more efficient use of space. And the Y board has to make decisions based on the amount of money it has. We would gladly build a larger facility with more amenities if the budget would allow.

I?m glad people care enough about the Y to have strong opinions. But please don?t believe that you know the facts until you talk to someone involved in the Y?s building campaign and look at the current Y. The easiest way to get that information is to come to the Y on Monday, July 18, from 5 to 7 p.m., or Saturday, July 23, from 10 a.m. to noon. Please come look and talk to us ? especially if you haven?t been to the Y recently. Please don?t make your decision if you don?t have firsthand knowledge.

I realize there are two issues. Some people support the Y but object to a city bond in its support. It seems overlooked, however, that the Y has provided the City of Washington with the services of a Recreation Department for 92 years. Our neighbor Mount Pleasant?s rec budget shows an annual net loss of $343,000; Fairfield?s annual net loss is projected at $265,000. Washington pays the Y $30,800 to run all its sports programs and manage the pool.

We live in a time when the bright lines between governmental and private entities are much less clear than we used to think they were. Washington?s city-owned library was funded by private donations; so was the state-funded Washington High School?s new auditorium. Both Wellman and Kalona have funded their Y buildings with a city bond issue. Kalona?s, recently passed, is for $3.9 million ? and Kalona?s population is less than half of Washington?s.

Thank you for thinking about these comparisons.

Proud to be a Washingtonian,

Rachel Nicola