Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Senior Center Fees topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
County residents urge Washington to reconsider fees at Grace Martin Harwell Senior Center
Summary
Several county residents spoke during public comment to oppose proposed fees for county residents at the Grace Martin Harwell Senior Center; City Manager Jonathan Russell outlined operating costs, membership distribution and a proposed outside‑city fee of $175 annually.
A group of county residents pressed Washington City Council on July 8 to reconsider proposed fees for county residents using the Grace Martin Harwell Senior Center.
Speakers during the public‑comment period included Catherine Crawford, Gail Breed, Edward Summerfield, Kay Summerfield, Mike Beacham, Kim Murray and Christine Hall, who expressed concern about access and fairness if fees are imposed on county residents. The comments were framed around preserving community access to a facility the city has subsidized since it opened in 1995.
City Manager Jonathan Russell responded that the center has an annual operating cost of about $300,000 and serves roughly 2,200 members, approximately 1,600 of whom live outside city limits. He said the county contributes $20,000 and that the city is proposing a discount rate for outside‑city residents of $175 annually (about $20 per month). Russell noted the city has subsidized the center and does not intend to close it; he said the council could consider family memberships, veteran discounts, volunteer discounts or poverty‑level exemptions and encouraged county residents to seek additional county funding.
What’s next: No formal council action was taken on the fee proposal at the July 8 meeting; staff noted the budget is fluid and the council could revisit the matter if additional federal/state funding or private donations become available.
Sources: Public comments recorded during the July 8 meeting and remarks by City Manager Jonathan Russell.
