GRANITE FALLS – The Granite Falls Boys &Girls Club might get a reprieve from a city-imposed Aug. 31 eviction date.
Mayor Lyle Romack plans to recommend to the City Council on Wednesday that the club’s lease of the city’s community center be extended for a year.
Romack released the news in written form but was unavailable for comment Monday because of a family emergency.
In the letter, Romack referred to the City Council’s decision April 27 to end the club’s lease of the community center. The council agreed with Romack that the terms being offered by the club for a long-term lease were insufficient.
“This caused some concern on the part of the Boys &Girls Club and the families impacted by this decision,” Romack wrote. “Since this choice was made, I have been made aware of strong opinions on both sides of the issue.”
That’s why the mayor is planning to ask the council to extend the lease for another year, he wrote.
Twila Madigan, a single mother with three kids who are active in the club, welcomed the news.
“I’m glad,” she said. “I hope that that time frame is for discussing something long term for renovating the building. I hope it’s not just to delay things.”
Romack’s letter did not specifically answer her concern, but he did write: “It is my hope that the Boys &Girls Club will continue to be an asset to the city of Granite Falls.”
Bill Tsoukalas, executive director of the Boys &Girls Clubs of Snohomish County, also welcomed the news.
“Obviously, we’re happy,” Tsoukalas said. “I think the most important thing for the community to know is we’re still committed to the project as long as the city wants us to stay in town.”
City Councilman Charlie Goodhope, who originally voted to terminate the lease, now thinks that was the wrong call.
“I guess none of us thought to check through the other side” of the debate, Goodhope said.
He said he was persuaded by Madigan and a group of parents she organized to lobby support for renewed talks.
“I got a completely different picture of the whole thing,” Goodhope said, adding that supervision at the club appears to be better than he first believed.
Goodhope is planning to run for mayor against Romack in this fall’s election.
Before Romack’s announcement, the parents had organized an informational rally at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Jim Holm Park behind City Hall, leading into the City Council’s meeting, which starts at 7:30 p.m.
Madigan said the rally would go on as planned.
A meeting between city officials and Boys &Girls Club representatives has been scheduled for Friday.
Tsoukalas said the main sticking points in negotiating a long-term lease were:
Who would control the building’s schedule: City officials worried that allowing the club to spend as much as $400,000 in grant money to renovate the 85-year-old building would cede too much control to the club. But the city doesn’t have the money to do it.
The length of the lease: The club wants a 30-year deal, for $1 a year, in exchange for the renovations.
The organization will have an offer to present the city Friday, Tsoukalas said.
Reporter Scott Morris: 425-339-3292 or smorris@heraldnet.com.
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