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Public urges larger rec center, advocates press City for six‑lane competition pool and YMCA partnership
Summary
At the Feb. 17 Mount Vernon City Council meeting, YMCA representatives and local swim parents urged the city to design a larger recreation center with a six‑lane competition pool and to partner with the YMCA; city staff said current plans call for a leisure pool and estimated the overall project at $26 million.
Mount Vernon — Residents, YMCA representatives and swim program advocates urged the Mount Vernon City Council on Feb. 17 to expand the planned recreation center to include a six‑lane competition pool and to formalize a partnership with the YMCA.
Terry Milt, representing the YMCA, told the council the organization needs dedicated facilities to run programs now being held in school gyms and warned, “the City has one shot to get this right.” Several other residents echoed that call, saying a larger facility would support swim teams, lessons and revenue‑generating events.
City Manager Nathan McKenna said current estimates put the total project cost at about $26 million, which includes architecture, engineering and interior finishes, with roughly $21 million allocated to construction. He said the pool element in the current plan is a leisure pool; separating out a six‑lane competition pool from the leisure features would change cost calculations. Mayor John Lewis told the council the city sought bond authorization up to $30 million to preserve flexibility as estimates are refined.
Jake Jangahel, operations manager for the Centralia Foundation’s Rec Complex, told the council a six‑lane pool “is not double the cost of a 3‑lane pool,” and outlined typical revenue sources for larger pools — swim meets, lessons, silver‑sneaker classes and private events — that can offset operating costs. Swim parents Troy and Trinda Heitmeyer and other speakers said a competition pool could restore a high‑school swim team and produce scholarship opportunities for local athletes.
Council members repeatedly said they want a full cost analysis before committing to design or fundraising steps. Council Member Donte Moore emphasized the need for detailed numbers before the city seeks more funds; McKenna said the city is still gathering estimates and may pursue fundraising if a larger scope is recommended.
What happens next: staff will continue refining cost estimates and scopes for the rec center. No design change or funding increase was approved at the Feb. 17 meeting; the council indicated it wants a full cost analysis before deciding whether to pursue a competition pool or to deepen partnership commitments with the YMCA.
