Resident urges board not to purchase YMCA dome, says district should require removal or reimbursement

A Garden City resident urged the board to reject purchasing the YMCA dome and to require the YMCA to remove the facility or reimburse the district for removal costs.

Jennifer Stanley, who identified herself as a longtime observer of the issue and a former board member, told trustees the dome is not economical because of heating and cooling costs in the local climate and expressed safety concerns about the structure's interior that affect students participating in sports. Stanley said the YMCA had requested the district purchase the structure; she argued that district taxpayers should not pay to fix what she characterized as the YMCA's business decisions and that, if the YMCA abandons the facility, it should pay the district the cost to remove it.

Stanley told trustees that USD 457 already has many maintenance and repair needs that should take priority over buying the dome.

Nut Graf: The comment was made during the public-comment portion of the meeting and did not by itself change district policy; the board heard public concern about long-term cost and safety implications and a community preference that the YMCA bear removal costs rather than district taxpayers.

Ending: The board did not take immediate action on the dome during the meeting; the comment will be part of the public record for future board consideration.