Mayor Scott James said the city has sent a proposed lease for McKinley Junior High to the city attorney and received no recommendation to reject it, while the city's insurance agent continues to review indemnification language and the city's $500,000 facilities policy before the lease is signed.

The review matters because, if completed, the lease would enable conversion of McKinley's gym, bathroom area and locker rooms into a community center that officials say will serve youth, seniors and other residents. "We sent a copy of the lease to our city attorney, and he said that there wasn't anything that he saw that we should reject this lease," James said. He added that the insurance agent "is checking on something on the indemnification, and $500,000 policy that we have on [facilities]."

City staff and the mayor described planned work to remove some walls and increase square footage behind the gym to allow programming. James framed the project as long‑overdue: the city has discussed a community center for years, and officials said McKinley offers space that would meet multiple needs.

Next steps are administrative: complete the insurance and indemnification review, resolve any attorney questions and sign the lease. City officials did not give a timetable for the next actions or a firm construction schedule.

The mayor did not provide a copy of the lease on the podcast and did not specify funding sources or a construction budget for the renovations.