When will the final storyline in the Benton Place campus soap opera finally be written, and by which county board?

In July 2003, county commissioners voted unanimously to allow the (then) county manager and attorney to begin negotiating a lease agreement with North Georgia Family YMCA.

Tripp McCallie, executive director of YMCA’s North Georgia branch, asked for 17 acres for the organization to build a $6.5 million, 58,000-square-foot wellness center. The center was to include indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a gym, an aerobics area, a rehabilitation area, child care, a youth center, family locker rooms and a meeting space.

The news seemed almost unbelievable. Maybe it was unbelievable.

Catoosa is one of the most rapidly growing counties in the south, and a new state-of-the-art YMCA here should one day be a reality.

The current YMCA facility, on Old LaFayette Road, is only 10,332 square feet, yet now serves approximately 1,300 members. It is well-run and family friendly.

But the existing YMCA is just too small for the number of people in this area who wish to use such a facility. Those wishing to use the cardiovascular fitness machines already have to sign up in advance for use in 30-minute increments.

However, this is about more than overcrowding; this is about a rapidly growing area and the need to provide proper fitness opportunities that will make us all healthier. This is about now and the future.

A larger YMCA would serve more families — some of whom would benefit not only from weights, exercise programs and karate classes, but also by taking advantage of after-school programs for kids and YMCA scholarships for low-income people.

The non-profit organization has approximately 2,500 facilities serving 18.9 million men, women and children in 10,000 communities throughout the United States.

An indoor pool is just one of the promised amenities of the proposed YMCA facility that would not only serve young and old members of the community, but would also create the possibility of a county-wide youth swimming program.

Ringgold and Fort Oglethorpe swim team members who wish to participate year-around now have to travel to Chattanooga or Dalton.

But those who thought it was a done deal to have a YMCA at Benton Place might just have to wait.

A lot has changed in Catoosa County since 2003.

Alcohol is now being served in this county, and Ringgold and Fort Oglethorpe are fighting for control of Battlefield Parkway. Both governments would like to expand their city limits to better benefit their cities.

But it seems that somewhere down the line some of the county commissioners promised too much, and the YMCA is on hold.

The finger pointing is going on. Who me? Oh no, it was so-and-so. It was that other board before me.

“I hope we haven’t promised more land than we have,” one commissioner said.

Somewhere on the long list of successful sports teams in Catoosa County there needs to be a place for the sport of passing the buck. We have some All-American buck passers around here.

Along with the land promised to the YMCA, commissioners originally voted to provide five acres for the Catoosa Performing Arts Foundation Amphitheater and 19.32 acres to Northwestern Technical College.

There are only 34 acres available at the location off Battlefield Parkway.

As of the end of the year, a decision has yet to be reached with any of the parties. Each has their own respectful argument, and so do I.

We need a YMCA, and a lot of folks are hoping commissioners will again agree.

Catoosa County has a need for more ballfields and better recreation facilities for extra curricular activities and adult programs.

And yes, the county needs facilities for higher education too.

Getting a new YMCA is just one more piece of the puzzle. It fits.

But if you promise a bigger puzzle piece than you actually have space for, there’s a problem.

Misty Martin is sports editor of The Catoosa County News and Fort Oglethorpe Press.