Despite concerns about barriers to membership and transportation, the Galesburg city council approved a $900,000 grant agreement with the Knox County YMCA to support a capital project that includes construction of a childcare area and renovation of existing space for a teen room.
The vote was 5-2, with Ward 2’s Wendel Hunigan and Ward 4’s Dwight White opposing.
One-time city funding for the project comes from the $5 million in general obligation bond funds issued in 2023 for the acquisition, construction, or renovation of an existing facility for the purpose of a community center.
Knox County YMCA CEO Adam Sampson requested the funds after serving on the city’s community center task force later that year. The $900,000 from the city makes up around half of the project cost.
Sampson told the city council the Knox County YMCA already provides a space for people of all ages in the community for recreation opportunities, childcare, and after school programs. It’s also in close proximity to Galesburg Junior Senior High School.
“The YMCA in the morning is the senior center. In the afternoon it becomes a youth center. And it's always a family center. We get all kinds of families that come through and utilize services or use the facilities,” Sampson said. “Our Y in this community is looked at as one of the leading YMCAs in the Midwest, especially in smaller rural towns like this.”
Sampson said around 8,700 Knox County residents are currently members of the YMCA. That’s 17% of the population.
“On average, 700 individuals come through our doors every day,” he said.
Sampson said the Knox County YMCA has revenue of around $3.2 million and expenses of the same, with membership fees and fundraising its only sources of revenue. He expects a 14% increase in membership with the new childcare facility and teen room.
“When we're talking about making decisions about partnering together and being stronger together, these are the type of things I think can accelerate and we can do more,” he said.
The Knox County YMCA was founded in 1866 and currently operates two facilities in Galesburg, the main facility on West Carl Sandburg Drive and the downtown YMCA on East Main Street. Its mission, according to its website, is to “put Christian principles into practice through programs that help build healthy spirit, mind, and body for all.”
“It's not about just kicking a soccer ball, shooting a basket. It's about being in the community, talking to other adults, looking people in the eye, having a great conversation about life. It's more than just that. It brings them together. They learn how to work in society,” Sampson said.
During public comment, some spoke in favor of the grant agreement with the YMCA and others expressed concerns about the facility’s northside location, lack of transportation in the evenings, the affordability of memberships, and a desire for Galesburg to operate its own community center.
“I'm here today because we're getting this all twisted,” said Pam Davidson, a Knox County Board member. “We're not talking about how good the YMCA is and is not good. We're talking about $900,000 of taxpayers' money. $900,000 that we're going to put in a private-owned, non-profit corporation instead of our own. We need our own.”
Two women who spoke during public comment said they were turned away in the past from the Knox County YMCA because of inability to pay.
Sampson said the facility uses federal poverty guidelines to determine scholarship eligibility, and aims not to turn anyone away, although people are expected to pay something.
In 2024, the Knox County YMCA offered around $480,000 in subsidies and scholarship, Sampson said. That included more than 500 families who paid less than half of the membership fee and some who paid as little as $5.
“We want to find a way,” Sampson said. “We're here for good, to provide things to our community.”
He said the YMCA staff works hard to find a dollar amount that fits a family’s needs.
"And if that doesn't work, just talk to us. I know of lots of kids that have done a couple chores around the Y for the day,” Sampson said. “I know men that have come in that don't have any revenue that put weights away in the weight room.”
Of the $5 million in bonds initially designated for a Galesburg community center, $2.5 million was redirected to asphalt resurfacing. With $900,000 now going to the Knox County YMCA, there are still funds available to fill some needs determined by the community center task force.
Ward 5 Council Member Heather Acerra asked Sampson if there would be a place for families to wash their clothing at the YMCA, which the community center task force determined was a need in the community. Sampson said that could be a possibility in the future.
Council Member White said there are also talks about bringing back a Boys & Girls Club and to provide a community center space on the south side of town.
“We've been working about three years on a community center on the south end of town where the kids actually live at. They don't have to travel across town to get to it,” White said.
White also asked Sampson if he asked Knox County for funding for the expansion.
“I think that the city and the YMCA just makes sense. All you have to do is look at Rock Island, Moline, Davenport, Bettendorf, Eldridge, LeClaire, Peoria, Burlington. When the city, the weight of this city, and the Y come together, we can execute,” Sampson said.
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