PORT ANGELES — Clallam County commissioners said Tuesday they are amenable to awarding a $731,705 Opportunity Fund grant to the Sequim Aquatic Recreation Center for a new air-handling and domestic water and wastewater system that is key to the athletic facility’s survival — but not before some hurdles are cleared.
They want a signed agreement between SARC and the Clallam County YMCA under which the YMCA would run the facility before approving the grant.
The numbers behind the grant also must be reviewed by Auditor Shoona Riggs and Treasurer Selinda Barkhuis, a topic commissioners’ Chairman Mike Chapman said likely will be discussed in March at a county Finance Committee meeting that will be chaired by Barkhuis.
Carlsborg project
In addition, bids will be opened March 1 on the $12.1 million Carlsborg sewer project, for which 32 potential bidders sought information.
Opportunity Fund money and a $10 million state Public Works Trust Fund loan will cover the cost.
Chapman wants to make sure there is enough money for the Carlsborg project after the bids come in.
Not seeing concerns
“I’m not seeing any concerns being raised as long as we have the actual money,” Chapman said after Tuesday’s regular commissioners meeting.
Finally, the SARC grant must pass muster after a public hearing is held, which commissioners will consider setting March 15 for March 29 — if the YMCA and SARC have a signed agreement.
“I see no reason the board will not release the funds,” Chapman said, adding, “There’s still a lot of work to go.”
Len Borchers, acting YMCA director, said after the commissioners’ meeting that March 15 is the goal for the agreement, though a September opening for SARC would be in jeopardy if an agreement takes much longer than that.
“We’ll be doing our best,” he said.
SARC board Chairman Frank Pickering and Vice Chairwoman Sherry Nagel will continue negotiating Friday with the YMCA, Pickering said Tuesday.
“No way would I envision the board of commissioners appropriating money until we have a signed agreement,” he said.
“I think the SARC board and the Y board will come to an agreement.”
By September, the YMCA wants to make SARC its third facility on the North Olympic Peninsula, joining athletic centers in Port Angeles and Port Townsend.
Borchers said monthly single adult memberships at the Port Angeles facility eventually would increase from $47 to between $48 and $50 after taking on SARC management due to extra costs, while new categories might be established for membership groups such as young and senior couples.
He said the Port Townsend facility does not have a membership structure per se.
SARC closed to the public Oct. 30 after voters rejected a February 2015 levy to keep the doors open and fund repairs.
During a presentation by Pickering and YMCA fundraising chairman Gary Huff on Tuesday, county Commissioner Bill Peach noted that SARC ran into financial trouble by not preserving funds for repairs that were instead used for operations before seeking a levy that became a do-or-die measure.
“That’s sort of what got us into this,” said Peach, a West End Republican who served on the Quillayute Valley Parks and Recreation District before being elected commissioner in 2014.
Borchers said the YMCA has $180,000 in reserves that can be spent on maintenance and a $100,000 line of credit.
Budget projections
Huff also assured the commissioners that budget projections are valid that include $150,000 in contributions for the Sequim YMCA in 2016 and at least $130,000 in contributions annually from 2017 through 2022.
Huff said about $90,000 in contributions has been identified that he expects will be ongoing.
That includes $60,000 from Olympic Medical Center and $30,000 a year from the city of Sequim that is contingent on a SARC-YMCA agreement and obtaining the Opportunity Fund grant.
“We raise $130,000 in Port Angeles every year,” Huff said. “We believe we can do the same thing in Sequim.”
The 2017 budget, which includes $864,320 in membership fees, shows revenue at $1.14 million and expenditures at $1.01 million.
“In looking at these numbers, they look really solid to me,” said Commissioner Mark Ozias, a Sequim Democrat.
“Every player’s piece is dependent on everyone else doing their part.”
EDC deal
In other action Tuesday, the board reached consensus on a $150,000 grant to the Clallam County Economic Development Corp. for the 2016 calendar year.
Commissioners will consider approving the contract at their regular meeting Feb. 23.
It’s the same amount commissioners approved for 2015 and have committed to for 2017 but for an agreement that has more conditions than last year’s pact.
EDC officials will be required to give quarterly presentations on a 2014-18 scope of work that includes creating more than 500 new direct jobs and supporting 15 companies in significantly expanding or locating in the county.
Information sought by the county will include businesses expanded and retained due to the EDC and the number of jobs retained due to the EDC.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
