By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
A slight reduction in hours has been approved by Decatur City Council as a way to get upgraded cleaning costs at the MERIT Center better under control.
At its latest meeting, council discussed the matter for the third successive meeting before deciding on the reduction in hours to at least address the problem.
It all began when someone (not named) had been cleaning the building on a regular basis, but had to step down with a medical issue.
Lynn Kressley, who has her own cleaning service, took over on an interim basis. But her work was so good it was decided to retain her on a permanent basis.
She is working 23 hours a week at $30 an hour, which translates to $690 a week, $35,880 a year. The city had budgeted only $12,000 for cleaning services there this year.
“We have budgeted $12,000 (for 2025) and we’re well above that,” Clerk-Treasurer Eran Hackman pointed out at a previous meeting.
There was some talk about increasing rents. However, the two largest users, the Adams County Council Aging and the King’s Kingdom Preschool and Child Care, have leases. The former has a 20-year lease, but the latter’s lease is completed in August.
Due to rising child numbers, King’s Kingdom is likely to see a rent increase next year, which is in its agreement. But even so, that won’t be enough to cover the rise in cleaning costs.
“So there is nothing we can really do on the leases now,” Councilwoman Jenny Bowers-Shultz said. City Attorney Anne Razo agreed.
There was some talk about who among the building occupants should do their own cleaning and where, and about the former school building providing a walking area for local residents in the cold-weather months.
It was noted that some 5,000 people took advantage of the opportunity to get in walking exercise.
As discussions continued, it was obvious that everyone wanted to retain Kressley. “She’s been great to work with” and all the tenants are happy with her work, said Community Coordinator Jamie Gephart, a member of the MERIT Center board. (As is Councilwoman Abby Wilder, who was unable to attend the meeting.)
As someone said about possibly “kicking this down the road,” Hackman quickly spoke up, saying she needed a resolution as time for 2026 budget preparations is approaching and there is also the matter of covering this year’s shortfall.
So Bowers-Shultz moved to reduce Kressley’s hours from 23 a week to 20 “and then see where this goes.” Councilman Matt Dyer seconded and unanimous approval followed.
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