Sultan opts out of new Boys & Girls Club

SULTAN — The city is no longer involved in the construction of the new Boys &Girls Club.

Last week, the City Council voted 6-1 to give $236,000 to the Snohomish County chapter of the nonprofit.

It will be up to the Snohomish County Boys &Girls Club and Volunteers of America to rebuild the old club that burned down on Christmas Eve 2010.

“It’s less complicated than a three-way deal we initially tried to do,” said Bill Tsoukalas, executive director for the Boys &Girls Club of Snohomish County.

After the fire, the Boys &Girls Club moved down the street to Volunteers of America’s Sky Valley Family and Community Resource Center, 617 First St.

The city and two nonprofits decided to build a 18,000-square-foot building at the new location next year. The money the city is giving to the nonprofit comes from insurance on the old building.

The Boys &Girls Club must build in the city limits and provide services to the youth for at least 15 years or give all or part of the money back to the city, Tsoukalas said.

“There are check and balances in the agreement that protect the city,” Tsoukalas said.

The city will review the design to see if the services provided are appropriate, Sultan interim city manager Steve Worthington said.

The Boys &Girls Club has about $1.5 million in construction money from county and state sources. Construction could start early next year and is expected to take about 10 months, Tsoukalas said.

The project can move faster now that city has stepped down, Sultan Mayor Carolyn Eslick said.

“In the end, we are receiving the same benefits,” she said.

Councilwoman Kay George voted against, because she is new to the council and wanted more time to review the issue.

Alejandro Dominguez: 425-339-3422; adominguez@ heraldnet.com.

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