Jasper’s Regional Wellness Center moving forward in phased approach

The City of Jasper has taken the Regional Wellness Center project off pause and restarted engineering work, with Mayor Dean Vonderheide announcing a scaled-back phased approach.

Vonderheide provided the update during Wednesday’s common council meeting, explaining that the project will move forward in phases as funding becomes available.

“We have the funding available to do this stage one,” he said. “The financial stack is in place.”

The city has secured a $25 million financial package that combines $5 million in city funds from various sources, including tax increment financing and the economic development income tax, $15 million from the Better Together campaign with the YMCA, and a $5 million READi 2.0 grant.

A bond will be repaid by the 1% Food and Beverage Tax, which the city began in January of 2024. The terms of the bond have not been finalized, but Vonderheide noted that the city was averaging over $600,000 annually in tax revenue from the Food and Beverage tax, which is added to customer receipts at area restaurants and ready-to-eat food vendors, such as convenience stores.

The phased approach allows the city to proceed without requiring additional taxes or funding commitments beyond what’s already in place. The food and beverage tax will service the bond needed for the project balance.

“(We) wouldn’t need any addition taxes or funding at this point,” he told the council.

The revised Phase 1 will include three gymnasiums instead of the originally planned four, along with walking tracks, exercise areas, studios, a kitchen and gathering spaces. Vonderheide noted that while the scope is reduced, it still represents “a significant portion of what we wanted out of the whole project.”

A second phase would include the aquatics center, potentially in a second building on the site.

Vonderheide also expressed optimism that the scaled approach will better position the YMCA for financial sustainability. The city is partnered with the Tri-County YMCA for the operation of the facility.

“From a YMCA standpoint, I feel like this is going to be a better step toward at least launching the Y here in Jasper at a break-even,” he said.

Originally, the full scope of the project, which included four gyms and the aquatics center under one roof, was estimated at $45 million. However, the city backed off from pursuing this plan, anticipating that the impact of SBA 1, the new property tax bill passed this year, would take shape over the next few years.

In a previous story, Vonderheide explained that the funding sources for the bond, TIF and Local Option Income Tax, were no longer viable options. Those sources needed to be conserved for other needs in the city.

Council members did not raise objections to the phased approach during Wednesday’s discussion. The project restart comes as the city continues to see strong performance across its recreational facilities, as reported by Parks Director Tom Moorman at the beginning of the meeting. (See below)

Vonderheide indicated that Phase 2 planning will depend on available finances and community needs assessment as Phase 1 nears completion. The flexible design approach aims to accommodate future expansion while ensuring the initial phase provides substantial community benefit.

The working group hopes to have conceptual plans completed by the end of November or early December, with signage indicating the project location expected before year-end. Site development and groundbreaking are targeted for April or May 2026, which will coincide with the timing for bonding the remaining project costs.

“Pretty much everybody’s been tugging on my jacket wanting to know when we’re going to get started,” Vonderheide said. “I think there’s a lot of anxiousness to get this thing under roof.”

Other items discussed at the Jasper Common Council meeting

Parks and Recreation Annual Report

Director Tom Moorman reported on the Park and Recreation Department’s impressive 2025 statistics across all facilities. The new swimming pool attracted a record-breaking 33,000 visitors more than half from outside the 47546 zipcode. Attendance surpassed the previous 1974 record of 23,000. Concession sales reached $86,000, significantly exceeding past years’ $21,000 average. Buffalo Trace Golf Course generated $947,000 in revenue, approaching the million-dollar milestone while remaining profitable. The Habig Center served 30,000 visitors with two months remaining in the year, likely surpassing last year’s record 33,000. Spirit of Jasper train rides achieve 91% capacity with 82% of passengers from outside Dubois County, demonstrating strong tourism appeal and economic impact for the community.

Pool Operations and Staffing Challenges

The swimming pool’s success created operational challenges, particularly with lifeguard staffing. The department primarily employs 15-year-olds, who face legal restrictions on working past 9 p.m. and on exceeding 40 hours per week. To address staffing shortages, the department created a “deck squad” for non-lifeguard duties, thereby reducing the number of certified lifeguards required.

Golf Course Improvements and Visitor Analytics

The department continued improvements at Buffalo Trace Golf Course. They replaced winter-damaged Bermuda grass with more resilient Zoysia varieties, though those same harsh winter conditions limited the supply of the replacement sod as regional golf courses competed for it. The golf course maintains partnerships with online booking platforms, allocating select tee times to third-party services while preserving local access. With 25,000 annual rounds, the facility operates near capacity limits while generating substantial revenue through pro shop sales and driving range activities.

Community Programs and Facility Enhancements

Moorman also outlined the department’s programming and initiatives for the year, including the annual tree giveaway partnered with Patoka 2000, breakfast and lunch events with police and fire departments, specialized camps and summer events and activities. Camp Cares serves special needs participants while regular summer camps attract strong participation. New additions include the Ruxer Playground and Buehler Park sand volleyball court, completed by the Mayor’s Youth Leadership Council. The popular Parklands Prairie Walk enters its third year, growing from 40 to 60 participants and extending from one to two hours due to enthusiastic community response. They also conducted a second controlled burn at The Parklands to replenish the wildflowers planted there and remove the invasive species.

Fee Structure Updates and Capital Fund Establishment

The council approved ordinance 2025-22, establishing new fees for Parks and Recreation activities. The department increases rental facility fees after comparing rates with private local venues, ensuring competitive but fair pricing while avoiding unfair competition with private businesses. Fee adjustments also account for hiring professional cleaning crews instead of requiring full-time employees to work overtime for facility maintenance. Additionally, ordinance 2025-23 creates a special non-reverting capital fund for the Parks Department, incorporating accumulated online reservation fees totaling approximately $20,000. This fund structure provides dedicated resources for future capital improvements and equipment purchases.