Safford urged to keep Boys and Girls Club

By Jon Johnson
Assistant Editor
Published on Wednesday, July 28, 2010 9:45 AM MST

Not since the previous sitting council attempted to replace beloved golf course pro Burt Watkins has there been such a show of support as those who represent the Boys and Girls Club received Monday night.

City staff added chairs in the Phelps Dodge Room at the Safford City-Graham County Library as the audience swelled to near capacity for the Safford City Council meeting.

The topic of the Boys and Girls Club was not on the agenda, but numerous people spoke in support of the program in the public comment on non-agenda items section. The people spoke in response to comment from the council about the possibility of turning the club into a summer-only program and drastically reducing the amount it is subsidized by the city.

Chris Calvin, a single father of two children, said he wouldn't be able to support his family without the help of the club. He said he appreciates they are being mentored and taught appropriate things rather than possibly being plopped in front of a television at a babysitter's house.

Barbara Haralson suggested the city's grant writer work on procuring grants for the club to help pay for it. She said programs like the Boys and Girls Club don't just happen overnight and are needed most during tough times.

"I was here when the Boys and Girls Club began," Haralson said, "and I would have to say that we felt very strongly that we needed a quality place for our kids . . . and I would say we need it all the more now."

At the council's budget meeting July 22, City Manager David Kincaid said he didn't believe the club was an effective or efficient way to use the city's resources. Kincaid said the city subsidizes the program at about $285,000 for a total of 150 kids. Using those numbers, the city pays $1,900 per child for the program.

"I'm not sure that at a dollar amount per user that that's an effective or efficient way to use our resources," Kincaid said, "because we do impact a very limited number of kids. We impact them very positively, but overall, it's not a large number."

At the budget meeting, the council members said they consider the club a valued resource, but the cost per user was not justified.

"I don't think all of the citizens need to pay for a few," Councilor Mary Bingham said.

Boys and Girls Club Executive Director Laurie Armstrong spoke at the council's regular meeting Monday night and presented the council with a petition signed by 300 supporters who could not be in attendance.

Armstrong said the club has had 821 users since August 2007, and the current numbers are limited by her reduced staff.

She said in the summer of 2008 she partnered with the Safford School District and held a program at the Lafe Nelson Gym, and she had 550 kids.

She blamed budget cuts and state regulations for the inability to serve more than the current count of 150. Additionally, she said by closing the club down, the city would eventually have a higher cost to pay because the kids would be forced out into the street and crime rates would likely soar.

"The number of the amount that we can serve is enormous," she said, "but we don't have the facilities, and we don't have the money."

Armstrong has brought in more than $200,000 in grants in the last two years. She believes she can make the club self-sufficient if given a little time and assistance from the city.

“What I'm asking for is one year. You give me one year, (and) I will find the funding available to make this Boys and Girls Club self-sufficient,” Armstrong said.

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Comments

15 comment(s)

confused wrote on Jul 30, 2010 2:11 PM:

" why blame the ex-mayor - he supported it - this is money from safford citizens that supsidizes families from not only safford...but also thatcher, pima, etc..we can't afford it. This is money that should come from charitable donations - not the city budget "

Another one wrote on Jul 29, 2010 4:08 PM:

" Another one bites the dust. I'm sure Former Mayor Green is singing this Song as he sees another employee, another community organization go down.

Green never helped the City grow, or help utility rates, or any other positive & productive event/organization take place in Safford.

It's a shame to see such organizations like the Library & Boys & Girls club struggle to exist.

The City needs to help apply for grants & other viable creative solutions to keep everything afloat. "

chong wrote on Jul 29, 2010 8:21 AM:

" Maybe to save money City manager David Kincaid could volunteer his time at the club. He could speek to the kids about the evils of drinking, mean cops giving DUI tickets, how much fun it is in jail. show them how to start a car with an ignition interlock device on it, tell them how to think fast when your spouse notices your car is not at home, places not to loose your phone, you know, teach them morals and ethics so they can growup to be a city manager "

To Resident wrote on Jul 29, 2010 6:38 AM:

" You,re correct, the most expensive puppet ever to grace the City,s pay roll. "

costly wrote on Jul 28, 2010 5:01 PM:

" The state pays $182.96 a day for incarcerated juveniles, that is about 65000 a year. I think my tax dollars are better spent at the B&G club. But Mrs. Harelson is correct find funding with grants. Have major fund raising events like the hospital does. "

Resident wrote on Jul 28, 2010 4:41 PM:

" City Manager David Kincaid said he didn't believe the club was an effective or efficient way to use the city's resources.....i say neither is he! "

Vanessa wrote on Jul 28, 2010 4:02 PM:

" Yet again times are hard and for some reason everyone thinks its ok to take from the kids. Ever hear the saying children are our future? Our focus should be on what we need to do for the kids, not take the money away from the kids. Closing the doors at the club will be the lowest thing the city could do! "

To Madge wrote on Jul 28, 2010 3:58 PM:

" Not all kids in surrounding areas use the Boys n Girls Club. You're making it seem like Safford residents are paying for these "non resident" children. And by the way, parents who take their children there while they work DO pay fees per child. "

to Freddy wrote on Jul 28, 2010 3:50 PM:

" I wished I had a haven to pay for my babysitting when my children were young. It should not be up to the government. If there are 10000 citizens in Safford there must be at least 2000 young children. Who keeps or pays for the keep of these? Why should we all pay for the keep of 150? If you are working for the City of Safford you can afford to pay for your children to be at the girls & boys club. I hear a starting salary is about $35000 at Safford "

to what cost to the future wrote on Jul 28, 2010 3:44 PM:

" The cost of jail rests upon the entire county not just the City of Safford. Get a handle on this. Lets talk apples to apples. Get the Board of Supervisors to create a tax district for the Girls & Boys club so the entire county pays for it and not just the City of Safford. Enough is enough, "

Actually wrote on Jul 28, 2010 3:39 PM:

" Madge, there is a charge. They just raised it a little while ago. By the way, most of the kids at the club are from Safford, usually within walking distance. "

What Cost For the Future wrote on Jul 28, 2010 1:47 PM:

" $1900 per kid? Seems like a good deal to me.

How does that compare to the cost of maintaining each child in juvenile detention?

How does that compare to the cost of arresting incorrigible youths?

How much does it cost for vandalism to our community caused by youths with nothing to do?

If the B&G Club keeps just a handful of kids off the street and maybe changes their lives, it seems that $1900 per child is a cheap price to pay. "

Madge wrote on Jul 28, 2010 1:06 PM:

" Once again residents of the city of Safford are paying for children that live in Solomonvile, Thatcher, Pima, Graham County and even Greenlee County to be kept at the Boys & Girls club while parents work. There should be a charge to put your kids into this facility. I say charge or close it down. "

Michael Freddy wrote on Jul 28, 2010 1:03 PM:

" The boys and girls club is more then just haven for these kids. There are a number of parents who use these services in order to allow them to work. The cost is not truly represented when you look at the cost put on the state to support these people if they loose there jobs because the can't afford day care for their children. Why are kids and education the first place any one looks at as areas for cost cutting. Isn't it about time we start putting our children s needs first. "

stunned wrote on Jul 28, 2010 11:02 AM:

" $1900 a kid is way too expensive - in our small community, in this economy, when we are cutting services and staff - we can not afford that level - cut the city funding in half and let them go to other organizations and businesses like the Chamber and EAC to get support "

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