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IT’S FUN TO STAY AT THE YMCA!

 The YMCA presented its proposal to relocate to the Hillmoor property. This is not the first time the YMCA has presented this idea. The city purchased the property for six million over a year ago, and it still sits empty without a plan. Plenty of ideas have been shared and an ad hoc committee was created to gather, organize, and discuss these ideas. Yet nothing is done, the public still cannot set foot on the property because of bogus lack of insurance coverage claims by Mayor Mayor and her ‘attached at the hip’ bunky named Joanie the Diner.

The Lake Geneva YMCA has been looking to expand for years but has not yet found a location that can support this expansion that feels right for them and the community. The YMCA did potentially settle on a location south of Lake Geneva, partially in Lake Geneva and partially in Bloomfield. Then the Hillmoor property was purchased by the city and the YMCA leadership felt this would be the perfect spot for a new updated and larger facility. The “Y” is looking at utilizing 40 out of the 200 acres on the property. The YMCA addressed the concern of taxpayers and the continued cost they will endure due for the purchase of the property, expenses, and infrastructure requirements (traffic, parking, water, and power) and believes the “Y” would ease that with its relocation and maintenance of a good portion of the property. Not only would the “Y” be responsible for a portion of the property leadership also says it will add revenue for businesses and the city. YMCA members often combine visits to the “Y” with trips to the grocery stores, retail shops, restaurants, post office and lake activities.

The Hillmoor ad hoc committee heard the “Y” presentation but has not shared the YMCA’s enthusiasm. The ad hoc members seem to lean more with the ideas of creating a park or a golf course. The park plan has the support of many, but the golf course apparently has the support of a limited few, one of those being Mayor Mayor and the current Judge of Lake Geneva. The YMCA leadership felt the public strongly supported the relocation of its facility to Hillmoor, beyond other ideas. In order to support this the YMCA paid to have a survey conducted, which included almost 1500 people. Survey responses came from residents and non-residents but also, and unfortunately, was sent to only 185 residents or non-residents who’d never been members of the YMCA! Oh, come on! The observation and conclusion by the “Y” leadership of the survey’s purported results showed significant support for the move of the YMCA to the Hillmoor property, with seven out of ten in favor of the move, of course.

The survey also indicated a high desire for pedestrian and bike trails, seasonal outdoor activities, wetland preservation, native plant restoration, and an outdoor music venue, with just 15% indicating support for a golf course.  The YMCA did not follow the kind of due diligence and scholastic rigidity in performing its survey and the ‘results’ must be judged accordingly.  Traffic is also a concern, as this location runs along a very busy Highway 50 coming into Lake Geneva, that is already jammed solid during the summers. The YMCA has shared its desire to the city on many occasions and recently shared the survey results with the ad hoc committee during its August 17th meeting, and with city council at the September 5th meeting. The “Y” is hoping the city will consider the findings of this ‘survey’ and share it with the public. The YMCA is running out of time and needs to make a plan soon to accommodate its members, the community, and all the program growth needed. The City of Lake Geneva needs to tread very carefully in considering this proposal.  Consideration should also be given, right at the get go, as to who would be getting all the construction money for the project.