The Indianola City Council met in a special session Thursday evening, reaching an agreement with the Indianola YMCA to transition the operation of the facility to the city.

City Manager Ben Reeves tells KNIA News the YMCA had approached the city earlier this year to alert the city to the financial issues the Y was facing, which eventually led to a financial ask of the city for $400,000 to continue operations, and at that time the city came to the conclusion that the city would be in a better place to take over operations of the facility.

Reeves said the YMCA faced a budget shortfall of approximately $303,000, of which $197,000 went to the YMCA of Greater Des Moines, and an additional $70,000 in rent to the city, which really meant a deficit of approximately $36,000. Reeves said the goal of the city is to run the facility operation without a burden to taxpayers, and for the facility to be fully funded by memberships.

Current YMCA staff will be given a conditional offer of employment with the city, which includes current Executive Director Heather Hulen, who will transition to be a city employee. As Hulen is currently a City Councilwoman, she announced her resignation effective immediately due to professional considerations.

The agreement plans as of now for the city to take over the facility on July 30th. For more information, tune in to today’s Let’s Talk Indianola.