Council declines $10,000 motion for Community Haven; director outlines $12,000 request and program breakdown

Rachel Scholten, director of Del Rapids Community Haven, presented the organization’s 2027 budget request and explained how the requested funds would be used. She said the $12,000 request would cover roughly $2,700–$3,000 for a summer recreation coordinator wage, about $1,000 for replacing damaged equipment and roughly $8,000 for field trips (admission and busing). Scholten said the program currently has 106 enrolled children, representing about 74–76 families, and that the field trips this summer were on pace to total about $9,100.

Council members questioned whether the program’s per‑age group 30‑minute sessions provided sufficient value and raised concerns about reach and return on the city’s investment. One member suggested a results‑based or enrollment‑tied funding model. The mayor put a motion on the table to approve $10,000 but, with no second recorded or insufficient support, the motion failed and no city appropriation was made at the meeting. Scholten emphasized the program’s role providing affordable activities and field‑trip opportunities to local youth and offered to provide additional financial documentation on fundraising and prior year results if the council requests it.

No formal alternative funding motion was adopted at the meeting; councilors asked staff and the Haven director to provide more financial details and attendance metrics for further consideration.