Fairbanks assembly votes to close Mary Siah Recreation Center during budget talks
Decision not final until budget is approved
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTUU) - Mary Siah Recreation Center in Fairbanks may close this year, following Saturday’s budget meeting of the Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly.
At the meeting, the assembly voted 6-3 to close Mary Siah, amending the borough’s FY 26 budget.
The center houses a pool, sauna, and weight room for the community, among other amenities.
This decision is not final until the final budget is approved.
Mindy O’Neall, who voted in favor of closing the center, said she has been against its continued improvements for four or five years.
“I think that we continue to put money into a facility that’s on its last leg, and the money that we have put into this could have been put into a fund that could be used for our plan,” she said.
O’Neall specified that she’d rather see the funding for Mary Siah put into a fund for a new recreation center, instead of the general fund.
Meanwhile, assemblymember David Guttenberg argued that without a plan to replace it, he would not support Mary Siah’s closure.
“Until we have a plan to to build something else, to replace it, probably more cost effective, more efficient, all those things, because it is different than other pools, you know, and I think we had that dialogue here where, you know, people said that that two or three degree difference in water is a huge difference for the, for the seniors and the children that use it,” Guttenberg said.
Ultimately, O’Neall, Barbara Haney, Liz Reeves-Ramos, Tammie Wilson, Brett Rotermund, and Nick LaJiness voted to close the center, while Guttenberg, Kristan Kelly and Scott Crass voted to keep it open. (Meeting Media 5:13:25)
During the same meeting, the body voted against closing Joy Community Center and the Carlson Activity Center.
If Mary Siah’s closure remains in the budget, it will be effective on July 1.
According to the borough, the amendments that have been made to the budget, including Mary Siah’s closure, will be open for public comment on May 1, with final amendments and voting scheduled to happen on May 8.
In 2018, facing expensive improvements needed to the building, the borough considered plans to demolish Mary Siah, but ultimately approved renovations after members of the community spoke against its closure.
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