Letter To The Editor: Sustainable Recreation & Early Childhood Education

Editors Note: The views and opinions expressed in this editorial are not necessarily the views or opinions of Oskaloosa News.

I have served on the Y board for 7 years. During that time we’ve worked on determining and achieving sustainability. This includes a balanced operating budget, maintaining debt-free operations, and providing valuable programming for the community. But, we are limited by today’s facilities.

Community survey results show the public values staff and programming, but facilities fall short. We operate childcare out of 4 facilities which is too inefficient in an industry that only has a 2% margin. 80% of those surveyed said they’d join a new facility with more offerings. We also know 80% of our current membership is aquatics driven. Our citizens want more opportunities, but we simply can’t deliver what our citizens want at the new facility.

In the last year, we’ve moved all of the child care out of the existing Y building. This created more space for recreation resulting in an increase of 100 membership units year-on-year. What would be possible with a facility with adequate space?

A Sustainable Model
A group of Y board members, staff, and business leaders have worked through a sustainable proforma. We developed a conservative model based on a 40% increase in membership units. Peer communities are sustaining increases of more than 50%. The proposed model assumes:
1. Reduction of private donations and grants for operations
2. Continue donation drive to support scholarships
3. Maintain current admission rates
4. Efficiency in staffing & operations
5. Reduction in utilities with geothermal system
6. Competitive salaries
7. Creation of an endowment for capital & maintenance expense (raised by Y and Mahaska Community Development Group boards)

Finally, as we talked to other Y’s and communities, they’ve told us that it’s too big a burden on membership to have to retire construction debt with membership dues. That’s why we ask for the city, county, school district and community to come together to help construct the facility.

I’m the last person who’d invest $24 million of community funds without a sustainable plan. The decision we make May 3 will have a generational impact in Mahaska County. I hope you will join me in voting Yes to create amazing new opportunities for the entire Mahaska community.

Linda Crookham-Hansen