I'm concerned about the proposed Lynden YMCA at Delft Square. As a member and taxpayer, it does not seem reasonable. I applaud Ms. Culbertson's research and letter to the editor.

The current YMCA was built in the 1960s. Delft Square was built in the 1930s. It has gone through a damaging fire and has been sitting open (no roof) and ignored for many years. Yet the YMCA, City Council and the Parks and Recreation department want to turn it into a "new" facility.

The burned building is far worse than our current YMCA facility ... why not spend a few hundred thousand to fix up what we have? A couple years ago the hot tub needed repairs and the city and YMCA would not consider it. Maintenance of the current facility has been lacking for years. The city owns the building and the YMCA manages activities. The YMCA is under Bellingham's management so most things need to be approved from there. It's not an effective system and now Parks and Rec want to be involved. A different facility would just provide more issues and less coordination of parties involved.

In a previous election, Lynden residents voted against a new middle school. Why would we vote for a "new" YMCA in this time of financial instability? The building and the politics of having a YMCA in Delft Square just doesn't seem safe.

Kathy Harrigan

Lynden