By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
A solution – or solutions – on how to pay for upgraded cleaning service at the MERIT Center in Decatur continues to be sought by city council.
The city is already over the $12,000 budgeted for cleaning the former school building this year and a new, improved service will go as high as $35,000 if continued as is.
Lynn Kressley has been handling the work for some time after the former cleaner had to step down for medical reasons.
The work by Kressley, who has her own cleaning service, was so good, however, that it was decided to retain her on a permanent basis. She is hired for 23 hours a week.
Councilwoman Abby Wilder, a member of the MERIT Center board, told council at its latest meeting that the board recently met “and talked of several different scenarios for solutions to the budget.”
One of them involved the King’s Kingdom Preschool and Childcare based in the center. It’s currently leasing space for $13,753 a year.
The daycare is not yet at full capacity and when that happens – which is said to be possible next year – its lease calls for an annual payment of $30,294.
That would clean up (no pun intended) this year’s cleaning budget shortfall.
“We have budgeted $12,000 (for 2025) and we’re well above that,” Clerk-Treasurer Eran Hackman pointed out.
“The biggest problem is that revenues (from the building) aren’t near enough now,” Mayor Dan Rickord said.
There was also the idea of upping the rent paid by the daycare center and the Adams County Council on Aging, which also occupies space in the building.
City Attorney Anne Razo, however, quickly indicated that that could be a problem since both the daycare and the council on aging have long-term leases.
Some other points made during the discussion:
* About 5,000 people pass through the building annually, Wilder pointed out.
*There currently are eight empty units in the center.
* Kressley’s cleaning work is mainly in the hallways, common areas, and the gym; the occupants clean their own spaces.
“There were a lot of complaints, issues” before Kressley took over, Hackman said.
Eventually, Wilder recommended and all council members agreed to postpone any action until gaining a closer look at the long-term leases.
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