Nixa council votes against YMCA partnership

Nixa City Council on Sept. 26 voted down a proposal that would have allowed the Ozarks Regional YMCA to manage the Nixa Community Center and recreational programs.

"Council did not come to this decision lightly. It was after much discussion with Nixa residents about all of the parks and recreational options that council decided it was best to keep the programming and operations of the Nixa Parks Department with Nixa city operations," Nixa Mayor Sam Clifton wrote in a public letter.

"City Council recognizes how this issue has fragmented the Nixa community; therefore, it is council’s hope that its decision represents the majority of Nixa citizens’ desire and commitment to retain, grow and enhance the city’s parks and recreational programs," Clifton added.

The city began entertaining the YMCA proposal after Parks and Recreation Director Kelly Hasner resigned for undisclosed reasons in May.

In Clifton's letter, the mayor, who works professionally as a homebuilder, said the city is searching for a successor to lead the department.

In 2011, the city subsidized $800,000 in Parks Department operations from the city's general fund. Officials have said Parks revenue declined with the 2010 losses of the Mercy Fitness Center on the second floor of the community center and SafeBase, a before-and-after school program. Parks' revenue was more than $430,000 in 2011, compared to $840,000 in 2009, according to Springfield Business Journal archives.

In the letter, Clifton recognized the state of the department, saying that "current parks operations are unacceptable and significant changes are expected."

"In visits with the YMCA, it was quite obvious as to how a professionally run recreational/fitness facility is supposed to run, and the Ozarks Regional YMCA is an exemplary model," Clifton said in the letter. "Therefore, our future aspirations are that Nixa’s Parks program service delivery will reflect and represent the highest regard toward professionalism."

Clifton said council is leaning on the city and the community to support the Parks Department, though he noted the general fund is spread too thin to adequately address park needs.