8/21/2019 Despite troubles, YMCA remains open - News - Boone News-Republican - Boone, IA

Despite troubles, YMCA remains open

By Michael Murrell, General Intern
Posted Jul 25, 2019 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jul 25, 2019 at 10:16 AM
The local Boone YMCA is still staying open despite recent financial troubles due
to the need of major repairs.

“We’ve made no decisions about closing the Y,” said Vice-President of Marketing
and Communications Ruth Comer of the YMCA Greater Des Moines. “The Y is
facing some financial challenges and we’ve been very open about that with our
advisory board and employees and members who have asked.”

The Boone Y is part of the YMCA Greater Des Moines. One of seven fitness
facilities in the association. The YMCA has been in the building since 2005.

“For the last several years the YMCA has not generated enough revenue to cover
its operating expenses,” said Comer. “So it has been subsidized by the YMCA
Greater Des Moines.”

According to Comer, it is becoming more challenging for the YMCA Greater

Des Moines to subsidize the Boone operation.

“It is becoming increasingly difficult for the Y to continue subsidizing the

operation and particularly because we are facing an immediate need for some
maintenance repairs and improvements to the facility that were in. The cost
estimates for those repairs range anywhere from 1.5 to 2.3 million dollars.”

Some of the repairs include the roof which needs to be done immediately, many
areas of the building are not ADA accessible and water damage from previous
incidents.

“At this point we’re having discussions to see what options are available. Is there
community support for the Y and in what form does that support take,” said
Comer. “Is there another facility that we can operate in. Are there partnerships

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8/21/2019 Despite troubles, YMCA remains open - News - Boone News-Republican - Boone, IA

that we can form out there to help with operating expenses and facility
expenses.”

The YMCA has approached the city about a potential partnership to help out
with the financial situation.

According to Fourth ward Councilman Greg Piklapp, the city would be

interested in partnering with a local run recreational facility but that they need to
receive more information about the financial situation from YMCA Greater Des
Moines.

“We are looking at some solutions for what we could do to improve the financial
situation but at this time we have made no decisions about closing the Y,” said
Comer. “The Y remains open for business as usual. We’re really at this point just
inviting people to share ideas with us. Are there sources of funding perhaps that
we haven’t tapped up to this point.”

The YMCA in Boone is located at the corner of Carroll St and 6th St and is
currently open seven days a week.

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