Hood County hears public pleas and complaints in special meeting on YMCA lease; no action taken

Hood County Commissioner’s Court on March 18, 2025, held a special called meeting in Granbury to discuss a proposed real-estate lease for the Hood County YMCA. The court opened the floor to about 25 public commenters, heard a mix of personal testimonials about the Y’s community services and allegations about maintenance and finances, moved into executive session for negotiations and returned with no action taken.

Why it matters: The facility was built after a 2012 bond measure that authorized up to $10 million for a county-owned recreational center to be leased to an operator; commissioners said the county posted a proposed lease in April 2024 and, after months of back-and-forth, received a YMCA response dated March 10 that requested an answer by March 24. Commissioners said they convened the special meeting because the court’s next scheduled meeting would fall after that deadline.

What speakers told the court: Mike Brown, president and CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth, described the local operation as a community lifeline and said the Hood County Y served "over 16,000 people" in 2024 and "directly invested more than $1,000,000 each year into the local economy." He urged the county to involve YMCA leadership in negotiations: "Invite me into the room, and let's have the first meeting, all of us together, and talk about how we can make the YMCA successful and stay in Hood County." John Michael Korn, who said he participated in the original bond and lease negotiations, told the court the bond was presented to voters and "that bond has been satisfied in the full," adding that taxpayers have not borne costs related to the center since the bond was paid.

Members of the public also raised concerns. Several longtime members and program participants urged the court to preserve the facility as critical for seniors, children’s swim lessons, after-school care and rehabilitation. Other speakers asked for transparency, with one requesting that the original contract be made available for public review. Criticism focused on maintenance and finances: Jarrett Stone alleged a pattern of poor upkeep at the facility, saying "There is no maintenance done at this facility... The bathrooms are disgusting," and accused operators of failing to maintain pool heating and water chemistry. Several commenters, including Carrie Basinger and Carolyn Reeves, cited public filings and alleged the operator reported substantial profits and federal grants, arguing taxpayers should not subsidize a prosperous nonprofit. The court did not verify those tax-filing claims during the meeting.

County timeline and contract issues: Commissioner Samuelson reviewed a timeline of county outreach tracing to his January 2023 term start, noting the April 25, 2024 Commissioner's Court vote to send a 13-month termination notice and the formation of a Y Oversight Committee in April 2023. Samuelson said the YMCA had been slow to respond to multiple county requests and that the county had an outstanding invoice to the Y for property insurance of about $28,000 that remained unpaid despite reminders.

Process and next steps: The court recessed into executive session to discuss the real-estate lease as allowed under Texas law for certain negotiations. After returning to open session at about 4:37 p.m., the court announced no action would be taken that day and adjourned. The YMCA had requested a written response by March 24 in a letter the county received on March 14; the court indicated it was continuing discussions and sought an amicable solution but did not provide a schedule for a public follow-up.

Reporting note: The commissioners cited public records — the 2012 bond ballot language, the 2013 lease and IRS Form 990 filings for the YMCA operator — as documents residents can review to follow the dispute. The court emphasized that the record of past meetings, minutes and YouTube recordings are available online.

The special meeting ended with no vote or formal action; commissioners said they intended to pursue negotiations but did not adopt or reject any lease terms during the session.