Concerned citizens during a Wednesday forum voiced their opposition to the potential development of a joint YMCA and Senior Center, with primary issues being the loss of space as well as disinterest in senior citizens and teenagers sharing facilities. City and county officials were present, largely addressing concerns about funding for this and other proposed government projects.
YMCA President/CEO John Alexander and Senior Center Executive Director Becky Barnhart presented the proposed plans for the 13,150-square foot expansion — though the organizations have not entered an agreement to move forward with the project.
One concern raised by community members during the forum was that the Senior Center would lose space based on the proposal. The expansion plans currently allot for just two classrooms and an auditorium specifically for the Center, plus an additional three rooms shared with the Y.
The present Senior Center location at 1650 West Second Street has eight rooms and is 22,000 square feet. One person noted event that’s not big enough for all of the activities at times.
Other senior citizens who spoke out Wednesday more specifically said sharing space with the YMCA — particularly the youth that utilizes the facility — is not something the want to do.
“I do not want to be put in there with a bunch of teenagers, and I don’t think any of us want to go out that way. We need our own separate place and that’s not big enough,” one person said.
Several people in attendance were confused why the Senior Center would be moved into the YMCA’s facility instead of developing into a new space.
City Manager Nate Pagan said that the city officials have been thinking about a new facility for the Senior Center for at least 15 years. He said that in January 2020, however, they attempted to get bids on the construction of a new building but received none.
The forum conversation eventually switched to Senior Center members questioning the City’s roughly $9 million contribution for a transient boat dock, a move that was agreed upon by Commissioners in early August. They also noted that the City government is looking into building an indoor sports complex.
“We can have boat docks, we can have a sports complex, we can have anything. But we’re the older generation that has worked with Boy Scouts, Girls Scouts, 4-H and we can’t have nothing for ourselves,” one person said.
City Commissioner Jeff Sanford said that ultimately, the other projects being sought after are not connected and the funding of one doesn’t affect the other.
“You mentioned other projects. This project has nothing to do with that project or another project. These three projects have been on our radar the whole time. They’re all separate projects,” Sanford said.
City Commissioner Bob Glenn similarly emphasized the project’s funds come from different sources. He said that the only dollars that can be put toward the boat dock project are tourism dollars.
“We can’t use that money to fund any senior center or any (other) project, but we do care greatly about (our senior citizens). That’s why I ran for reelection. I want to get a senior center done and I’m confident we’re going to,” Glenn said.
Pagan then dispelled some misinformation about the proposed development of a joint YMCA and Senior Center.
He said the $3 million the City has promised to donate would only go to the joint project. Should either party not decide to go forward with the plan, the promise would essentially be void the City would have to replan how to allocate money to the project, if possible.
Meanwhile, Daviess County Judge-Executive Al Mattingly said the $2 million budgeted to give the Senior Center will be used toward the project — regardless if it’s a joint development, a new facility for seniors, or a renovation of the current Senior Center.
However, Mattingly noted that $2 million will not be enough to repair the current building, let alone build a new location.
“We can send $2 million in this building and it wouldn’t even begin the cost to bring this building up,” Mattingly said.
Alexander said the YMCA is hosting open houses on Sept. 29 and 30 for members of the Senior Center to see the YMCA’s facility to help them get a better idea of what the renovations would look like when they are finished.
