City Council finalizes Galloway-Hammond operating agreement between Burnet, YMCA
JARED FIELDS • PICAYUNE STAFF
BURNET — City Council members finalized the operating agreement for the next 20 years between the city of Burnet and YMCA of Greater Williamson County for the Galloway-Hammond Recreation Center.
The agreement passed unanimously in a special meeting May 7. The agreement is expected to pass the YMCA board’s vote sometime this week.
The center is located at 1601 S. Water St. (U.S. 281).
The YMCA will take over operations of the center, under the name The YMCA of the Highland Lakes at Galloway Hammond, on Oct. 1.
Before the vote, council member Philip Thurman expressed his “gratitude for hanging in there with us” during the last few months of negations to YMCA of Greater Williamson County president and CEO Jeff Andresen.
“It’s only a good partnership if it works for both of us,” Andresen said.
City Manager David Vaughn said the first of two phases of more than $500,000 worth of upgrades and renovations to the center is nearly complete.
“I told someone earlier today, I never dreamed that $150,000 (of the first phase’s construction) could make that big of a difference,” Vaughn said. “It’s awesome.”
Phase I renovations include the center’s aerobics room, cardio and free-weights area, spin room and movie room.
The YMCA and city will continue operations as normal, with the YMCA again running a summer camp beginning in June, in the months before the YMCA takes over the center’s operations.
Current Galloway-Hammond staff will have an opportunity to apply for jobs at the center when the YMCA begins operations.
The YMCA also will be responsible for the recreational vehicle park’s reservations as well as scheduling of all sports fields currently owned by the city.
The first year of the operating agreement includes a $175,000 subsidy to the YMCA from the city. The amount declines by $25,000 each year until remaining at $100,000 at year four of the agreement.
jared@thepicayune.com