Letters to the Editor

July 11, 2016

Washington, Iowa

To the Editor:

Regarding the upcoming Community Y referendum, we decided to conduct our own research with the ultimate goal of making an informed independent decision. We have not signed any petitions, pro or con. We listened to many opinions with a wide range of reasoning. We researched recreation program costs in other similar size communities. We gathered comparative Iowa community recreational data from our city manager.

Our research included a review of the collaborative arrangement between the City of Marion and their new $18.5 million Marion Community Y. We contacted the mayor of Waverly, who verified that his city is guaranteeing payments of $750,000 per year for 10 years for the $27 million Wartburg College Fitness Center. There is a membership/usage fee. There were no bond issues in either of the aforementioned. The city councils merely approved the requests.

We are keenly aware that the odds of passing any bond issue are difficult. Voters typically do not look for reasons to vote ?Yes.? Some voters automatically are against any bond issue resulting in a tax increase. We greatly respect the position of those who oppose, but we have not yet heard of a viable alternative.

We discovered that based upon population, Mount Pleasant annually spends $39.57 per person for recreation, while Fairfield spends $29. Marion is giving $6,500,000, or $186.95 per person, to their new Community Y, again without a bond issue. Kalona just passed a $3.9 million Community Center bond issue forecasting an annual cost of $134.23 per person over 20 years.

In the process, we discovered by contrast that our city?s annual contribution to the Y?s recreation programs is approximately $4.05 per person, not including payment to the Y to manage the aquatic center. Passing the bond issue would result in 20 forecast annual payments of $224,000, or $30 per person. If the Community Y would cease to exist, then the financial burden would be placed on the city without offering other various quality programs.

The Community Y is not owned by a group of investors. No one is getting rich from this. The true benefactors are the 1,952 youth participants served annually and the 75 participants in a growing swimming program, not to mention all the adult programs. We trust the judgment of the Y board. They have good reputations and are good thinkers. Having a Community Y was a great influence for our family to move here in 1990. The Y plays a major role in the health of our community and especially the development of our youth. Please remember that in June 2015 a $2.3 million bond issue was approved for six preschool classrooms and a child care center at Stewart School. This Y referendum would benefit significantly even more of our youth. Bond issue approval should be an easy decision for those who voted ?Yes? last year.

We assume that we will not have a second chance to get this right. Therefore, based upon the facts of our findings and not emotions, we have decided to vote in favor of the referendum. Please join us in voting ?Yes? on Aug. 2. Thank you, and a special thank you to The Journal for providing this forum for citizen opinion.

Keith and Sam Lazar