Council study session focuses on staffing, budget and partner agreement at Indianola Wellness Campus

At a City Council study session on the Indianola Wellness Campus (IWC), Heather, executive director of the IWC, told council members the campus is struggling with unfilled elements of the transition into the city’s organization, staffing shortages, deferred maintenance and unclear partnership responsibilities.

Heather said staff "have been patient, but have grown weary and are frustrated. The burnout is a reality of our circumstance." She asked the council for clearer direction on pay-scale integration, funding commitments for salary and building needs, and a schedule for follow-up meetings.

The discussion centered on three near-term priorities Heather identified: updating the existing 20/80 partnership agreement that governs how city, Simpson College and the local school district share costs and facility use; finishing a compensation/grade integration so IWC staff sit on the city pay scale; and short-term revenue steps such as establishing a 501(c)(3) fiscal vehicle to receive donations and sponsorships.

On the 20/80 agreement, Heather said partners originally contributed about $750,000 toward construction of the facility but that recurring maintenance and some replacement costs now fall to the IWC budget. She told council the campus sent a report in October laying out direct and indirect costs associated with competition swimming and other partner uses; she and several council members said that those costs need to be revisited with Simpson and other partners so the campus is not carrying all long-term operating costs alone.

Council member…