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Daviess County commissioners approve letter of intent to provide up to $5 million for YMCA project
Summary
The Daviess County Commissioners approved a letter of intent to contribute $4 million, with an additional $1 million conditional on available funds, toward a proposed new YMCA facility; commissioners and local council members said rising project costs and site fit remain concerns.
Daviess County Commissioners approved a letter of intent April 28 to contribute $4 million toward a planned new YMCA facility, with an option to add $1 million if county funds become available.
Nathan Gabhart, county secretary, told commissioners the YMCA originally sought $8 million but the city is able to provide only $3 million. Gabhart said project estimates have grown — he cited a new estimate nearer $32 million, up from about $25 million — largely because of uncertainties about where and how the building will fit on the proposed site.
Gabhart said private donors have indicated they may make up part of the gap but that the county’s commitment would help secure the capital project. "This project is intended to build a facility that's going to service the community 20 years from now when the community is thriving," Gabhart said.
Tom Schaffer, a Madison Township resident and member of the Daviess County Council, urged support for the proposal, calling the facility a generational investment that would replace the current YMCA building and expand services such as before- and after-school care, daycare, sports venues and an aquatic center. Schaffer said he supported the board committing in the $5 million range.
Vice President TC Cook said he was more comfortable with a $4 million pledge rather than immediately committing a full $5 million, noting he had previously been told funds were not available when he asked County Council about another project. The commission approved the letter of intent as written — $4 million plus an additional $1 million if funds are available — by unanimous vote.
The board did not detail a timetable for formal grant agreements or commitments of donor funding; commissioners noted that final costs could change if the site plan requires a different footprint or additional work.
The letter of intent approval authorizes county staff to proceed with the next steps in coordinating the county’s contribution and communicating the county’s commitment to the YMCA and municipal partners.
