Still months away from its target date for opening as the Sequim Y, the former SARC facility is getting an internal makeover.

Commissioners of Clallam County Parks and Recreation District 1, commonly known as the Sequim Aquatic Recreation Center (SARC), have a chance to reduce fossil fuel demands by converting the air handler used to maintain air quality within the swimming pool area from propane to electric.

Commissioners are considering accepting a $273,151 grant offered by the Washington State Department of Commerce.

But the board won’t accept the grant until the final figures tied to the change — such as the energy savings — are confirmed, said Frank Pickering, Clallam County Parks and Recreation District 1 chairman.

“I’m very excited about the opportunity to upgrade the new unit and make it more energy efficient,” he said. “The state is interested in reducing the use of fossil fuels and that’s one reason we were awarded the grant.”

The aquatic and recreation facility has been closed since last October, but steps to reopen the facility by the Olympic Peninsula YMCA remain underway. Per the contract between SARC and the YMCA, SARC board commissioners agreed to replace the aging piece of equipment in preparation for the YMCA to lease the facility expected to open as the “Sequim Y” in September.

SARC commissioners are using a $731,705 grant awarded from the county’s Opportunity Fund to replace the air handler, but have been offered the additional grant to switch the system from propane to a heat pump.

The SARC commissioners were offered the Department of Commerce grant after applying for it through the Washington State Department of Enterprise Services and associated energy services performance contractor Abacus Resource Management.

“It’s a great opportunity to add more energy savings at no additional costs,” state energy engineer Lisa Steel said.

Steel is overseeing work by Abacus to replace the air handler at the soon-to-be Sequim Y via a contract between SARC and the Washington State Department of Enterprise Services.

Although shifting to a heat pump could extend the construction time of the project by a few weeks, it’s expected to save 30,341 gallons of propane, Steel said.

“This is absolutely the most exciting news other than actually getting the air handler because this will save propane to the tune of about $60,000 annually,” Sherry Nagel, Clallam County Parks and Recreation District 1 vice chairman, said.

A heat pump would increase electricity demands, but after doing the conversions, Steel said, reducing the reliance on propane still results in energy savings.

As soon as the SARC commissioners receive what Pickering calls “official amounts and figures” associated with switching to a heat pump to support the air handler, he plans to call a special board meeting to discuss acceptance of the grant.

Steel anticipates construction to replace the air handler to begin the third week of June and continue through July or August.

Slow, steady progress

Olympic Peninsula YMCA officials still are targeting to open the Sequim Y mid-September, but there “remain a number of unknowns,” said Len Borchers, Olympic Peninsula YMCA acting CEO. The possibility of the new grant from the Department of Commerce is among the “unknowns” that could extend the project timeline.

Overall, however, Borchers said progress to open the Sequim Y “is slow and steady” with “lots of positive signs.”

YMCA officials are finalizing their lease agreement with Olympic Medical Center that will allow the center to offer cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, physical therapy, sports medicine and other chronic disease management services, as well as getting bids for the repair needs and hiring staff.

Up to three finalists for the manager position will be invited to Sequim for the final interview, Borchers said. Also, both facility maintenance and aquatics departments still are accepting applications.

The Sequim Y ad hoc advisory committee is beginning to take shape and held its first meeting May 6. Thus far, the committee consists of Virginia O’Neil, Ken Stringer, Warren Pierce, Mike McAleer, Herb Cook, Bob Hitchcock, Phil Merlin and Nagel as the SARC board ex officio member, along with Y board members Anita Benitez, Dennis Watson, Gary Huff and Borchers.

“It looks like a really great, engaged group,” Nagel said.

The committee will meet monthly to help form and oversee the plans, policies and programs of the Sequim Y and report to greater Olympic Peninsula YMCA.

The Clallam County Parks and Recreation District 1 will remain intact as the facility landlord, but it will have “no say in operations,” Pickering said. Differing from the Park and Recreation District meetings, as a private organizations the Sequim Y ad hoc advisory committee isn’t required to be open to the public.

Reach Alana Linderoth at alinderoth@sequimgazette.com.