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Hayes stays with city

After months of uncertainty, the Carbondale City Council voted 6-1 to continue its involvement in the Eurma C. Hayes Childcare Center.

The final decision came after more than an hour of discussion at Tuesday's city council meeting and a long pause from Mayor Brad Cole before he announced his vote, which was followed by applause from citizens attending the meeting.

After the council's vote, Cole said the reason he hesitated was because he believes this is not the last time the issue will appear before the council.

The city considered ending its support of the center in February when the estimated cost of continuing daycare at the center for the 2005 fiscal year was figured to cost more than $363,000.

An outcry from the public to review all possibilities first resulted in the creation of a mayoral review panel to report on the feasibility to maintain the center.

The report done by the review panel was one of many documents that council members received in relation to the center and its possible future.

The council backed the suggestion of the panel when it decided to increase the 2005 fiscal year budget in the amount of $202,873.

The only council member that voted against the proposal was Corene McDaniel.

"When I vote tonight, I will do what I think is best for the children," McDaniel said before voting against city control of the center.

McDaniel said she believes the failure of the facility was not only the fault of the city's staff and the council, but also that of the parents.

Many of the council members said this decision was one that could be and should be handled by the city, even if it loses money.

"We don't call our fire department a loss, but we lose money on it," said Councilman Lance Jack.

Councilman Steven Haynes said he is living proof the center is an important and quality service to the community.

"I think it is a vital part of the community and a vital part of the city," Haynes said.

Some council members noted the fact that the center does have a long working history with the city and this is much of the reason the center should remain part of the city.

"I always felt the Eurma C. Hayes Center is a legacy to the city," said Councilwoman Maggie Flanagan.

The option recommended by the review panel and passed by the council will also cut the number of employees working at the center.

The action requires the layoff of five full-time employees and a number of part-time employees that is equivalent to 1.25 full-time employees.

However, this dims in comparison to the 27 employees who would have been laid off if the council chose to close the center or hand it over to a private company.

Even with the possibility of losing their jobs still lurking, Kenya DeWalt and Susan Harper, both of whom work at the center, said they are relieved a final decision has been made.

"We're glad it's over," Harper said. "That's a relief to everyone."

According to DeWalt, one of the reasons the center was losing children was because it was uncertain if the center would stay open.

"Parents said if it will stay open, they'll bring their kids back," DeWalt said.