Gary Council OKs $1.5 million for YWCA upgrades
The YWCA of Northwest Indiana will be getting $1.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to help with renovations and programming.
The Gary Common Council on Tuesday unanimously approved the request after receiving a detailed breakdown of how the funds will be spent.
Council Vice President Tai Adkins, D-4th, said in the previous committee meeting where the request was made by Caren Jones, executive director of the YWCA, there was discussion to ensure the use of the dollars was identifiable and appropriately done because of the rules surrounding spending of these federal dollars.
“We cannot for the lack of a better phrase fumble this back,” Adkins said.
Councilman Ron Brewer, D-At Large, requested the spending plan be shared with the public.
“I think it’s a very good breakdown,” Brewer said.
The bulk of the funds will be spent on three main projects. Approximately $425,000 will be used for the pool renovation including a new filtration system, chlorination and pool lining. Roof replacement is expected to cost about $210,000, Adkins said, and approximately $410,000 would be spend on the facility’s HVAC system.
Adkins said no work has been done on the facility’s HVAC system since it first opened. The funding will be used for a complete overhaul of the system.
About $27,000 has been budgeted for an interior and exterior lighting conversion to LED, while $15,000 was budgeted for the parking lot repairs. Improvements to the daycare center, after school center, gym, dance studio and multipurpose room are expected to cost $70,000 and another
$15,000 has been budged for replacing the multi-purpose room carpet.
The YWCA has budgeted $25,000 to update the front desk; $80,000 for the locker rooms including plumbing work and
new lockers; and another $60,000 has been budgeted for bathroom repairs.
“These are pure estimates give or take,” Adkins said.
The remaining funding will be spent on miscellaneous equipment, after school programming, the computer room and the commercial kitchen.
Adkins said since the amounts are budgets, once actual quotes are received, there will probably be some rebalancing of where the money will be spent.
Councilman Clorius Lay, D-At Large, questioned whether the YWCA would be spending any of its own funds or those from other sources in addition to what the council is providing. He also asked if the full amount is not used, would it be returned to city.
“I don’t have an answer to that,” Adkins said, adding if the amount needed exceeds what the council has provided, the YWCA would not be returning to the council for additional funding.