Friends of the Rutherford Pool members John Weiss and Cathy Thorburn near the pool Sunday.

Tom Perkins | For AnnArbor.com

The Friends of the Rutherford Pool and Ann Arbor YMCA are exploring how the YMCA could financially and logistically manage or own the pool, which could face closure without major repairs in the next couple of years.

Cathi Duchon, executive director of the Ann Arbor YMCA, said she came away from a recent meeting with the Friends hopeful for some type of arrangement allowing the Y to operate the 40-year-old pool and said the three biggest questions concern ownership, management and funding.

“Our initial interest in the pool stemmed out of an interest in being in Ypsilanti to help kids stay active, not to run a facility,” she said. “If it were closing, it would begin to eliminate activities for kids in Ypsilanti, and we don’t want that.”

John Weiss, a member of The Friends, said he was pleased with the progress made at the meeting and that the two parties are working together to figure out a budget and business model.

“We’re trying to see whether it’s feasible without running a huge deficit while still keeping it accessible to everyone,” he said. A family pass to the pool costs $125, and Weiss said The Friends are hesitant to raise the rates.

Earlier this month, members of the Friends said they need to raise $1 million for extensive repairs or a complete rebuild in order to keep the pool open. The group was formed in 2003, after Ypsilanti eliminated its recreation department. Since then, the Friends group has kept the pool open through a combination of fundraising, entry fees and volunteer work.

The Rutherford pool facility could come under the ownership of the Ann Arbor YMCA.

Tom Perkins | For AnnArbor.com

Both parties said the first problem is raising the capital to keep it open.

Weiss acknowledged the initial $1 million is a lot to raise, but said The Friends are confident it can be accomplished. He added the Y’s biggest concerns lie in how the facility is managed and funded after the renovations.

“People feel it would be a really big challenge, but we could probably run a campaign and raise enough money,” he said. “But then what comes after that. That’s a big question.” Weiss said the group is also looking to Senator Debbie Stabenow and U.S. Rep. John Dingell’s for help obtaining federal dollars and at several other options for obtaining larger pots of funding.

He also said The Friends are beginning to work on a pledge drive in which they are hoping to secure $20,000 to $25,000 in pledges. He expects donors would pledge from $500 to $2,000 each and pay those pledges over a period of four to five years.

“We feel like that will demonstrate to foundations or government agencies that there is grassroots community support, and that would give us leverage to go after bigger pools of money,” he said.

Ypsilanti Mayor Paul Schreiber, who is also involved with The Friends, said he's pleased to see the YMCA join the community in the effort.   “I’m glad there are so many different people interested in seeing this happen,” he said.

Weiss estimates the pool needs between $500,000 and $700,000 in repairs or a complete rebuild to remain open beyond another season or two. Among the more serious issues facing the pool are tears in its liner and leaks in the main drain. There is also concern that one corner of the pool area is beginning to sink into the ground.

Duchon and Weiss both said community pools typically don’t break even, and that is a major concern for the Y. While the Rutherford Pool has broken even in the six years since the Friends took over its management, the City of Ypsilanti has paid some utility costs, without which it would have run a deficit.

Duchon said the Y cannot fund a pool operating in the red.

“Our concern is 'How would that would look if we were managing it?'” Duchon said. “Would the Y be responsible? It’s not something that we can afford to have happen so we’re trying to find the right mix for supporting the pool going forward.”

Should the Y take over management or ownership, operational costs, which are now estimated at $40,000 to $50,000 per year, would increase with a planned full management team and better amenities.

“We’re trying to get a handle on what the operation has been like over the last five years, and then look at what that might look like if it was a bigger pool or different management technique,” Duchon said.

She said the Y is possibly looking to partner with another larger entity or organization. A community pool in Southgate is managed by the YMCA and co-owned with Wayne County. If the pool makes money, the county and YMCA split the profits. If it loses money, they share the debt.

Duchon said she liked that model, and it's something that's desirable, but she has not approached Washtenaw County, or anyone else, about the possibility of co-ownership.

Tom Perkins is a freelance writer for AnnArbor.com. Reach the news desk at news@annarbor.com at 734-623-2530.