November 08, 2009
What's Inside:
YMCA seeks funds for elevator repairs
Plans to pay for elevator repairs at the St. Joseph Family YMCA with city money did not crash, but they may be stuck for a while.
The St. Joseph City Council postponed a decision to donate $33,040 to the YMCA on Monday after citizens spoke out against using public money for private problems. The money would have come from the Riverboat Gaming Fund.
The YMCA’s elevator had been out of service since it failed a pressure test in November. Repairs were completed in May, but the YMCA sought city funding to pay its bills.
The YMCA applied for $20,040 in Community Development Block Grant funding to fix the elevator in November. It might have received the funds, but was ruled ineligible because it made a down payment of $16,050 on parts for the elevator before submitting the application.
“They tried to do the right thing, and in trying to do the right thing, they disqualified themselves from CDBG money,” City Manager Vince Capell said.
Council members were set to approve the donation Monday with an emergency ordinance. After hearing spirited opposition, the council voted unanimously to treat the ordinance as a first reading and will decide the issue June 15.
Emergency ordinances are passed on the first reading with six votes, while normal ordinances have two readings and require a simple majority to pass.
“If the repairs have already been done, then there’s no reason we can’t postpone this two weeks and go through the normal channels,” councilman Bill Falkner said.
Shawn Henderson, spokesman for City Employees United, said he had heard multiple elevators were out of service at the city’s wastewater treatment plant. Public Works Director Bruce Woody confirmed that two elevators were out of service, then pointed out that next year’s budget has set aside money to repair five of the six elevators at the plant.
Mr. Henderson suggested the city would have been better off if it spent more money on maintaining its infrastructure instead of donating to non-profit organizations.
“We have employees negotiating a spiral staircase with their equipment, and yet we’re donating $33,000 to fix the Y’s elevator,” Mr. Henderson.
The YMCA elevator provides access to the upper floors of the building for disabled patrons, senior citizens, or other people unable to climb three flights of stairs.
Mayor Ken Shearin said he believed the YMCA did a lot for the community and deserved funding.
“I looked at this as a community service thing. In the time I’ve been in office, the YMCA hasn’t asked for a thing,” Mr. Shearin said.
Clinton Thomas can be reached at clintonthomas@npgco.com.
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voted down stimulus money could have been used here. instead, we're going to give a tight budget more strain by donating $33K to an orginization people have to pay to belong to, and use. the Y has some gall to even ask. why don't they ask the united way? honestly do the city leaders have 2 brain cells to rub together to get a clue?
I am a member of the YMCA and in the past when they have needed extra money they just auto-deduct an extra months dues to cover what they need. They don't ask if its ok, they have auto-deduct so they just take what they want.
A couple points should be considered.......
The Y serves a much higher percentage of people who can not afford dues than it ever has before. The "Y" gets a lot of bang for the buck.
The elevator is used almost exclusively for folks who absolutely need an elevator. It is not a convenience.
During this down time many people have been unable to participate in "Y" programs
Why in earth would you want city tax dollars to be used for a private business? They are United Way funded and are tax exempt! Give me a break! YMCA dues are used for salaries and maintenance/upkeep of the building.....
To the YMCA: Be wiser with your dollars!
My family can not afford to be members. I say no way...... ask someone else for the money.
younggrandma........you seemingly haven't sat down with a counselor at the "Y" to see what is possible. They have a program to match family income with programs available.
stjolocalguy....the "Y" is not a private business. It is a community not for profit organization. I have no problem with "being wiser" with funds available and perhaps the "Y" should have funded reserves for things like elevators that need major expenditures every 25-35 years....but then someone would squeak about having cash reserves. I'm thinking for instance they also have a roof....that will need a major expenditure every 20+ years.
They are getting quite abit of milage out of the budget they have so a big hit like the elevator is indeed a hurdle.
lbc is right. So many of the non-profits in town are faulted for maintaining reserves to make building repairs. The folks wanting to increase funding on programing need to realize they need a building to "program in". This is exactly how the St. Joseph Museum got in trouble with their building at 11th & Charles. They did not establish a sinking fund to provide for the needed repairs and maintenance. If they had, the council and others would have faulted them for building up a reserve fund to address these issues. Gee, maybe the SJSD can exhaust its' reserve and then go to the city ....
IBC, if you or any other private individual or business needs money for a large purchase or repair and when you do not have the funds available you go to a bank and apply for a loan for the funds you need. Bottom Line...... The city is NOT a bank and it's not supposed to loan or give tax payer dollars away for repairs. Any business should have a reserve fund for those unforseen instances and if you don't and your not fortunante to get a loan then guess what? You're out that repair or new purchase..... And finally on the roof comment, I guess they'd better start saving their pennies!
it is really sad they botched their chances at the cdbg funding, which is intended for situations like this.
The city can loan or give away money. Does it every single day. Then again think what the Feds are doing.
The city makes its decision based in part on the fact that the YMCA provides social programs for the community.
That being said, to adapt an old adage, the Y's failure to plan is not my emergency.
I don't know the United Way's "policy" on its affiliates having "reserves", but that should be considered. If they did not allow the "Y" to accumulate funds for such purposes that would explain their situation. If that were true, the United Way might be the appropriate source to look to.
Intersting there are no doubt other organizations in a similiar situation and some probably don't even know it. (They'll find out when something breaks)
Let me get this straight. Some of you are suggesting that a business or organization needs to maintain a reserve fund for expenses but then a large percentage of the voters complained that the SJSD had a reserve fund. I'm confused! It's no wonder St. Joe struggles when every discussion is spun to meet individual needs.
You complain because a business or organization (ex. SJSD) has managed their finances fairly responsibility and you won't provide for them.
You complain when a business or organization (ex. YMCA) does not look towards the future and you won't give them money.
Could you provide me with the list of requirements that a non-profit organization must met in order for the city to assist financially?
insideout......I hope your directing your remarks at "a large percentage of the voters"....and not me.
Policy should be spelled out and then followed with consistency.
In the meantime we do have organizations such as the "Y" that look to many sources for funds. They shouldn't be shackled with a "policy" that is someone else's. Actually the City has supported many similiar programs over the years and the "Y"s request should be judged on it's merit.
I am a YMCA member. I receive financial assistance for my membership. I need the elevator to get around. The YMCA lets all people join the Y no matter their financial status. I mean anybody and everybody. What other organization does that? The YMCA provides rest room facilities to all the people coming from the bus station and homeless people - while the city puts a sign on the rest rooms at the bus station that says "go to YMCA". Do the downtown businesses thank the Y for this? All St. Joe Citizens should thank the Y for all they do. Amen.
I belong to the YMCA. I know the YMCA gives membership to all individuals. I asked a Y employee today and they said the Y gave hundreds of thousands of dollars in membership scholarships to those in need. I think St. Joe is blessed to have the downtown YMCA, especially when so many businesses, federal employees have moved to the burbs.
The City has given thousands of dollars to many non-profit organizations in St. Joe. Why not the Y? The Y has been helping everyone who askes for like 125 years! Let support the YMCA. They need our help now!!
I am as well a member of the downtown ymca i do understand that the lack of a elevator has been a down fall to those that have disabilities my thoughts are there are grants and loans witch there are out there to help as of grants that need not to be paid back or low intrest rates thru the government thru the act of disabilities places like the ymca gives a chance for disabled children as well as disabled adult to energize there mind as well as there bodies.
LBC - My comments were directed toward the community at large. I completely agree that the Y's situation should be reviewed on its merits. Do I think that tax-payers should be footing the entire bill? NO. Do I think they should consider providing some assistance? Yes. To determine the percentage to “donate” maybe the council should consider the percentage of members that the Y provides financial assistance to. I don't have a perfect answer.
What I do know is that if the community and its leadership will not invest in its self then they will continue the downhill spiral that has been occurring for decades. Furthermore, new business will not invest in the community either. The community refused to support one group (SJSD) because of a reserve fund and they appear they will not support the Y because of a lack of reserve. The community cannot have it both ways and be successful. This is prime example of why businesses choose to look past St. Joe. There will always be an excuse not to investment in the community and most of those start with "I...". Maybe, when the community begins to take a "we" attitude then the educational and business opportunities will return.
I'm no bleeding heart but assisting others in some shape or form is a fact of life. We must all remember that someone before us paid in order for us to enjoy some of the luxuries we have today.