Catoosa fitness center owner says county should use current resources instead of YMCA; meeting tonight to address the issue
Nov 10, 2009 | 1501 views | 16 
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Tonight at 6 p.m. at the Catoosa County Administrative Building, the YMCA, Waters and county commissioners will meet to discuss all sides to the issue. (For developments on this story, including information from tonight’s meeting, return to our website.)
During the summer, the YMCA announced plans to build a facility in Catoosa. The initial plans include building a multi-use gymnasium and providing services to the senior center at no cost. Later phases project having a full-scale facility with indoor walking track and pool.
The proposal presented to the county by the YMCA requests leasing 7.5 acres of land on the Benton Place campus for $1 a year for 25 years under tax-exempt status. It includes a request of up to $500,000 in local sales tax funds to provide for the gymnasium and two soc-cer fields and asks the county to provide the construction of the parking lot.
The proposal also requires the county to maintain the parking lot, curbing, paved road-ways and lighting.
In 2007, a similar proposal was struck down by the county because of the tax-exempt status request.
Waters said the main problem he sees with the proposal is that although the YMCA is a non-profit business, it does charge for memberships and therefore doesn’t believe it should be eligible for tax-exempt status or receive funding from the county. He said if the YMCA provided free services to the county, there would not be an issue.
He said because The Rock all ready provides comparable services and because there are other gyms in the county, as well as a YMCA facility in Fort Oglethorpe, the YMCA of Chattanooga will not be providing anything new to the county. He added that the tax-exempt status is “unfair” to other businesses, such as The Rock, which provide a comparable ser-vice and have to pay taxes.
“The county shouldn’t give tax-exempt status unless they’re getting something equal in return,” Waters said.
Waters said there is limited financial gain for gyms in the area, especially in the current economy. He said The Rock is not profiting from the services it currently provides and that tax-exempt status is the only incentive the YMCA has for coming to the county.
“If a business that charges for its services wants to compete in the county, that’s fine,” Waters said. “But they should have to pay taxes just like everyone else.”
Waters said there is adequate recreation access in the county through organizations such as Ringgold Youth Athletic Association. He said the county shouldn’t pay for something it all ready has.
“I can’t see one thing the YMCA has proposed that will benefit the county,” Waters said.
Waters said he would be happy to work something out with the county to provide services for seniors and that it is in the best interest of the county to use resources it all ready has.
“Give us the chance first,” Waters said.
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Is he going to offer day care, after school programs, camps, basketball programs, and all the other programs the YMCA does for the communities? No, because it would cost him a dime. The elderly in this community don't feel comfortable going to his facility. They want somewhere they don't have to feel self concious about being there, they have classes centered on them, and be around others their age. Children and teens need somewhere they can exercise with their parents as a family, not where they have to be left out.
I think it is very selfish, and disrespectful of everyone in this community for him to continue to try to keep out a christian based business like the YMCA. I hope the commissioners can forget "the gold ole boys club" and for once do something to benefit EVERYONE in this community instead of themselves and their friends.
Aqauholic- To my understanding, the YMCA that they are building isn't going to be near the scale as the one on Hamilton - meaning it will offer fewer programs/amenities. The YMCA's that do have them, however, there is a cost for those. Childcare and such programs are not free. We are in the process of offering kid-fit programs for children that are ages 6-11. It will be fun, yet also help children remain in shape. Activities such as aerobics and swimming, just to name a few, will be included in this program.
mpliles5- We currently have senior rates of $30 a month for a 6 month period. we are proposing a rate of $10 a month for 6 months to the county, along with the other mentioned things, to be exempt from property taxes and thus not to be a NPO. We feel that what we are giving to the Catoosa County citizens far outweigh our $18,500 in property taxes. It all adds up: Free memberships, heavily discounted senior rates, and free classes. We are counting on people to see the good we do bc of our involvement, as well as our cheap rates.
Contracts- In almost every gym, you have contracts to insure you keep the doors open. We do have 1, 2, and 3 year contracts. We feel that our prices, along with the quality of our center, more than accomodate the fears associated with contracts in comparison to all other competition. We do have moving clauses, and will work with members to suspend their contract due to injury or extreme circumstances. However, I do see why people do not like the idea of contracts.
Karma- I'm sure that we would have a written aggreement with the county stating these details, however, the direct benefit we would get from such a proposed agreement, would not be from the seniors, but from people learning about us and wanting to experience our facility due to word of mouth.
Both proposals, however, were rejected in tonights commissioner meeting. It will be brought up again in the next 6-8 months. I suggest everyone get a copy of both proposals review, see the benefits of both, then contact your commissioner with your thoughts/feelings. Be ready for changes made to the next round of proposals. The county said that "we just did not have the money to give out to the YMCA at this time".
Will the YMCA still come without getting money AND $500,000 worth of parking lot construction? Because it was my thought the land was offered but they wanted the rest in addition, for them to come....
The Rock offers $10 memberships to seniors, right? That's a good deal, but what about contracts? The ideal gym would have no contracts. A gym in my town, La Fayette, has a ridiculous contract system whereas it lasts a year and even if you don't go, you still have to pay for the membership.
You say that your company wants to go NPO, right? Has The Rock even applied for NPO status? Has it started the paperwork? Or has your local government blocked your application in lieu of the YMCA coming to town? Wanting something and actually doing it are two separate things.
If you guys open up a Rock gym in La Fayette and offer a good deal on a contract-free membership and possibly throw a scholarship my way, I'd give you my support!
To All:
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for local business. If a local boy or girl can beat out a "big brother" institution, then circle the wagons. But if your local governments are selling you guys out, like "donating" land without just compensation, then I'll fight it to the end.
If your county decides they want the YMCA, then I believe you guys in Catoosa should seriously start protesting and questioning your representative's views because they obviously aren't in their constituent's best interests. An NPO "requesting" a $500,000 kick-off and 7.5 acres of land for $25 bucks? And not to mention a $50 membership rate for the average gym member. Yea, if you Catoosians allow this to happen, you deserve it. You've got to pump, it up!
YMCA came back and said they could do it on 7 acres.
Maybe I'm old school
First we our offering free classes and access to the gym to current colonade seniors for free. Classes include water aerobics and low impact aerobics. For every other senior 65 and up in the county we are offereing memberships for just $10 a month. I can not find anywhere offering these kinds of prices. Also, we are offering up to 50 scholarships to people in need a year.These scholarships are at the sole exepense of us, totally free not discounts.
The only thing we are asking is to be tax exempt and we are showing you what you recieve in return for this. We are not making money by offering these things they only way it would truly benefit us is if the seniors chidren take notice and choose to become members.
We are much more than a workout facility offering an indoor pool, seperate facility just for women, $1 daycare, classes (yoga,spin,water,dance and more)
We are not your average gym we cater towards families and you can tell by our enviroment. I encourage you guys to come by and check us out, our facility is first class our rates are speak for themselves in comparison. Come in and take a tour anytime and get a free pass to work out or try a class. Id be happy to answer any questions people have over this ordeal.
"Beware the counsel of someone who stands to profit from it."
Take the emotion out of this for a moment. Ask yourself some questions. It might not even hurt to ask your county commissioners these questions.
1) The Y wants taxpayer land handed over for free (along with upkeep forever). Why can't YMCA members pay for the land and the facility that they will use ? Citywide Y members will get use of this facility at no additional charge. Why can't they PAY for this additional benefit through an assessment of current members ?
2) Hamilton County did not give their YMCA taxpayer owned land for their existing facilities. Why should Catoosa County ?
3)Other than some vague promises for senior citizen aerobics ,what is the YMCA really promising here ? Not much ,apparently. The recreation programs that are thrown out there are already in existence , there are no concrete commitments to provide services for the disadvantaged and control will be exercised out of a central beauracracy.
4) Will your county commissioners stand before you ,look you in the eye and tell you that they have not personally been promised ANYTHING to push this boondoggle through. Ask them.If the answer is not an unequivocal , emphatic "No" ,then the fix is in.
5)If the YMCA is such a screaming need ,why does it only make sense if it is financed by the taxpayers ? This should be an easy one. If this idea makes sense,it should stand on its own two feet without government support.
Look , the county is broke. There is not enough tax money coming in to keep up the streets ,fix the sewage problem in our neighborhoods and keep employees on their jobs without furloughs. This proposal is like a family behind on its house payments buying a snowmobile.It would be one thing if there were absolutely no facilities of any kind for exercise and recreation ,but that is not the case here.I don't attend the Rock ,but the owner there makes a very good point- The county did'nt give him land to build his facility,but he took the risk and built a place to be proud of. To set the Y up in business with taxpayer financing would be stupid public policy.
Whereas the YMCA actually gives back to the community in more ways than just money by ways of community projects and donations, these privately owned gyms are in it just for the money. Although that isn't a bad thing, it just isn't a very good argument. Beef it up!