DOES CITY NEED YMCA?; TASK FORCE TO STUDY FEASIBILITY

A task force looking into a YMCA in Cape Girardeau decided it needed more information about implementing a feasibility study.

A study by YMCA officials would determine if the city needs or could support a YMCA, but people at Monday night's meeting had questions.

Is there a fee? What does a feasibility study entail? How is it conducted? What are the criteria? What factors will be taken into consideration?

About 25 task force members and legislators voted unanimously to answer the questions before committing themselves to a feasibility study.

The study could determine if a YMCA would duplicate services provided by the Parks and Recreation Department, the Civic Center and the Salvation Army.

Task force chairman Terry Starkey said he didn't think that would be a problem.

"Can we peacefully co-exist? Certainly," Starkey said. "We could even share facilities."

Atop the task force's priorities are facilities for a YMCA, but that is "a far ways down the road," Starkey said.

"We're really not talking about a brick and mortar issue here," he said. "We're talking about using existing facilities. It's not going to be an eight-story building with a cafeteria and a swimming pool. It's going to be a telephone and a desk somewhere and it could be in somebody's house."

The sky's the limit for the types of programs the YMCA provides, Starkey said, adding: "We can use the YMCA's programs or we can tailor programs to fit our community."

Jeff Partridge, executive director of a YMCA in Sikeston, told the people assembled at the Southeast Hospital that the Sikeston YMCA started in a room with concerned citizens, just like this one.

"Fortunately, they had key people get involved," Partridge said. "They set out and raised the $200,000 in seed money that helped us get on our way."

About $200,000 to $250,000 would have to be raised to start a YMCA in Cape Girardeau to fund its operations through the first three years.

After that, the YMCA could be funded through membership fees, grants from the United Way, the government and donations from businesses and private individuals.

Cindy Jeter, a member of the Community Caring Council which formed the task force, said she thought more community input was needed.

"I don't see many Joe Blows here," she said. "There are just a bunch of professionals talking about a feasibility study. We need to talk to people and see how they feel."

Starkey said a community forum could be held to discuss the YMCA.

No future meetings were set until after information on the feasibility study could be gathered. Task force members would be notified at that time.

Eventually, the task force will make a recommendation to the Community Caring Council.

At the end of the meeting, Starkey said he could no longer chair the task force because of mounting professional responsibilities.