YMCA push should be slowed for second look

I would like to encourage the city council and those in support of The YMCA to do more research before pushing this.

I appreciate the fact that Kevin McClure and Tim Neal voted against it.

I am Kevin’s wife and a local business owner for 17 years. The Y would hurt local businesses. I and my partners employ 31 staff members at Kiddie Korner Daycare & After school program.

The Y could be devastating to our childcare program, Kay Whaley’s or Tam’s Tots.

We spoke to other businesses, such as Foust Family Fitness, which is concerned about the Y hurting their business. We also spoke to Rob Jago from the school board. He said it would be devastating to the before-and-after-school program.

Rick Ross from the Kingston parks and recreation department said it would hurt them as well.

I appreciate the fact that Matt Caldwell wants to donate land and do something nice for Kingston, but perhaps donating the land so that parks and rec could have a new ball park would be a better idea.

Perhaps donating money to Roane County High School, which has rooms in need of air conditioning or could use more academic options like multiple foreign languages, would be better suited. Also, a donation to any of us private early educators would be greatly appreciated. Unlike government funded programs we do not qualify for grants.

I also would like to bring up that even though the land would be donated and there may be a grant for the Y, there would still be cost to the city or those of us who live in the city.

I am asking that our city mayor and those in support really do their home work and consider supporting the private industry already established.

I think too many people have forgot that it is the small businesses that make our county great.

Melissa Agee McClure
Kingston