The Salem City Council Monday night ended its seven-year partnership with the Gateway Region YMCA to provide recreation programs to the city.
City Manager Annette Sola says the city will now provide the program themselves and has hired Jed Casburn as fulltime city recreation director.
“It just no longer made sense financially for us to stay in that position, and then to continue to have staff inside of city hall support the swimming pool and some of the functions that the city offers,” Sola said. “To bring all of that together under the roof of recreation just makes sense.”
Among the duties that Casburn will pick up is managing the Salem Aquatic Center as well as the 4th of July and Christmas programs that were being completed by other city staff members. The YMCA flag football program will also become a city program. Other YMCA programs could also be picked up by the city.
Casburn says he’s looking forward to his new role.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to have worked with the Gateway Region YMCA team and the Marion County YMCA board, and I am very excited for the opportunity to continue to work with the city of Salem to build and run programs for the community,” Casburn said.
Sola says she’s excited for the future of the recreation department, noting Casburn does so well with his various programs and working with the kids. She notes the YMCA is still interested in having a presence in the Salem community. The change is effective immediately as the contract with the YMCA actually ended in April.
