MARTINSVILLE, VA – During their Tuesday meeting, the Martinsville City Council heard a presentation on plans for a new Martinsville-Henry County YMCA facility.
Executive Director Brad Kinkema gave the presentation for the facility that would cost an estimated $28 million and be built at Central Plaza in Martinsville.
The YMCA purchased the shopping center and its 7-acre site located at the corner of Fayette Street and Memorial Boulevard at auction for $714,000 in January.
The new location would feature:
Splash pad, outdoor courts and field that would be open to the public
Early learning center
Two indoor pools (lap and recreational pool)
Community multipurpose rooms and S.T.E.A.M lab
Three multi-use indoor basketball courts
There are plans to sell the current building, a nearly $5 million facility built in 1990, in a way that would benefit the community.
Membership rates would not increase because of the project, according to Kinkema.
Kinkema stated they will be requesting the city to provide $1 million in funding for the project.
No action was taken by council.
Also, City Manager Leon Towarnicki gave an update regarding the use of American Rescue Plan Act funding and its remaining balance.
In June 2021, the city received a total of $15,463,451 in ARPA funding which was followed by council earmarking to fund for various projects.
Towarnicki presented update on expenditures that have occurred to date, projected remaining usage of funds based on approved projects and earmarks, and remaining funds to be considered for future use.
The city currently has $4,062,869 remaining in funding, council has scheduled a work session to discuss potential plans for the remaining amount of funding.
In other matters:
Council voted to approve a cigarette tax increase from $0.30 to $0.40 per pack, effective September 1
Council voted to approve a lodging tax increase from 2% to 7%, effective September 1
Council appointed Lucy Treado to the arts and cultural committee
City council should revitalize, repair, and update the five park facilities in the city before giving a million dollars to the YMCA. All of the parks have been neglected by the city for years. They all need serious maintenance. There's more to maintain park facilities than cutting grass and emptying the trash cans once a month. The YMCA needs to find other sources of funding for their project