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Ranlo staff outlines YMCA corporate membership savings; board debates concession-stand operations for youth games
Summary
Staff recommended a YMCA corporate membership for about 31 town employees that could cost the town roughly $3,217 annually at a 75% subsidy; commissioners also debated whether the town or outside groups should operate the concession stand for upcoming youth games and how inspections, liability and money handling would be managed.
Town staff told the Ranlo Board of Commissioners that a YMCA corporate membership for the town’s roughly 31 employees could be structured so the municipality pays for five seats and receives a 75% discount for employees at an estimated annual town cost of about $3,217.
"So the only cost to the town would be every year $3,217 to get 75% off for all 31 employees," staff said while reviewing two subsidy scenarios (50% and 75%) and noting the YMCA’s structure that reduces cost volatility from turnover. Staff said the membership would also waive the YMCA’s usual $50 joining fee and that the discount would not automatically extend to youth sports fees (members receive member pricing for sports, but the 75% subsidy applies only to the monthly membership fee).
Board members asked whether the town’s insurance could offer a wellness discount tied to employee participation, and staff said some carriers and wellness vendors can provide modest premium offsets but specifics would need follow up with the town’s broker.
Separately, commissioners debated reopening the concession stand for YMCA/T‑ball games. Concerns centered on food‑safety inspections, who would handle cash and deposits, and whether the town should operate the stand directly or allow a nonprofit or for‑profit vendor to do so. One attendee urged a cautious start with packaged goods before allowing on‑site cooking; another suggested using volunteers or an outside operator to avoid town liability. "I would recommend somebody either rented that's for profit or an organization that's not the town," a participant said when cautioning against town‑run food sales.
Staff said the board had discretion on the membership subsidy level and on concession operations; no vote was taken on either issue at the meeting.
