Published: July 24, 2008 02:45 pm         

YMCA shuts doors

Officials say closure is temporary

In an effort to curb operating costs, London-Laurel County YMCA board members elected Friday to, at least temporarily, close the gymnasium and fitness center.

YMCA Director Don Burgin said the decision was made because those two programs are the least profitable. A sign on the door posted Friday informed patrons that the building, which houses the gymnasium and fitness center, will be closed until further notice.

Other programs, including daycare and the summer food program, which are operated in an outbuilding adjacent to the main building, will remain in operation.

Burgin emphasized that the closure is not permanent. Board members have spoken privately with city and county officials in an effort to secure funding.

Mayor Troy Rudder said the city has not allocated any funding for the YMCA in the last several years. The last installment was $5,000 given during former Mayor Ken Smith’s term.

“The city helped them get started,” Rudder said.

In the 2005-06 fiscal year, the county gave $13,000 to the YMCA.

Laurel County Judge-Executive Lawrence Kuhl could not be reached for comment.

Burgin said he has been contacted by several people who are willing to host fundraisers to assist the YMCA. The YMCA pays $90,000 annually in rent, upkeep, utilities and insurance on the building, which is leased from the Bennett Center.

“The last couple of years have been tough on everybody,” Burgin said. “Because the Bennett Center owns the buildings, we couldn’t leverage them, so we decided Friday, we needed to temporarily close those programs as we try to get a better handle on things.”

Burgin said another program which uses the main building is the Head Start program. To hold the Head Start Program, Burgin said the YMCA needs three classrooms. Burgin has spoken with Bennett Center officials to see if they could use some of the classrooms to hold the Head Start program if the gym is not re-opened.

Officials have been in contact with city and county officials to determine what, if anything they could do to help the YMCA.

Rudder said he had not been contacted. The council is scheduled to meet in regular session again on Aug. 4.

“It is something the council could look at,” Rudder said. “They have the discretion to move some money around.”

Burgin said board members want to be able to re-open the gym and fitness center within two weeks. If it is determined the programs are not financially sustainable, Burgin said the board members will discuss what to do for the YMCA patrons.

“We will try to do something that is fair,” Burgin said.

Burgin said each YMCA is a stand-alone operation, receiving no funding from the national YMCA.

The London YMCA was organized in 1998. It employs six people, five of whom work part time.