(Spirit Lake)– The Spirit Lake city council voted four to nothing last evening to contribute a million dollars over 10 years to the YMCA project…but there is a string attached. The Y cannot offer any specialized weight training programs for two years once the facility opens.
The council took the action after hearing comments from both sides of the issue for nearly an hour and-a-half. Owners/operators of fitness centers again maintained the city shouldn’t contribute taxpayer money to a non-profit organization that could put for-profit operations out of business. They also said the council and YMCA officials renegged on a promise to meet with them to try to reach a compromise. YMCA officials say such a meeting wouldn’t have been productive because each side is set in its ways. Supporters of the “Y” also say the privately owned fitness centers serve a special niche and that the YMCA won’t be in direct competition with them.
