Parents urge county to intervene in YMCA child care closure

Current and former parents of children enrolled in the Cook County YMCA’s child care program spoke at Tuesday’s Public Health and Human Services board meeting, urging the county to work with the Lake Superior YMCA to preserve the program.

The YMCA announced publicly on Oct. 12 that it would close its child care program by the end of the year, on Dec. 31. Parents were notified of the impending closure a few days prior, on Oct. 9. The organization cited enrollment trends, changes in Cook County’s child care landscape and concerns about the program’s long-term sustainability.

At the time of YMCA’s announcement, six children were enrolled in the program, all under the age of three.

Cook County resident Gina Joyce, whose child was previously enrolled in the program, spoke during Tuesday’s public comment period and urged the county to take action, expressing concern that the YMCA Advisory Council had not been consulted about the decision.

“I reached out to our local officials about the daycare closure and learned that this decision was never discussed at any of the advisory council meetings,” Joyce told the PHHS Board. “I believe we have a responsibility to challenge this decision, bring the right people to the table, and explore every reasonable option to preserve childcare at the Y.”

The Cook County YMCA Advisory Council supports the organization’s programs through volunteer and fundraising efforts that advance its mission, according to the YMCA.

Joyce spoke about how childcare supports the broader local economy and the services Cook County residents rely on.

“Childcare is not separate from our economy,” Joyce said. “It helps make the workforce, small businesses, and essential services possible. Our community cannot afford to lose essential services one by one without considering how each loss weakens the whole.”

Parents Laurel Wilson and Keith Bergeron also addressed the board, describing their experience trying to find child care for their 18-month-old son.

“This is bigger than the five families affected by the closure. Cook County is in a child care crisis,” Wilson said to the board.

Wilson and Bergeron called for further examination of the YMCA’s decision to close the program and the delays in obtaining the family child care license the organization had sought.

They also urged the county to continue its child care provider wage enhancement program, a non-mandated service that could face reductions or elimination as the county develops its 2027 budget.

Cook County owns the building housing the YMCA and is responsible for facility maintenance. More than $250,000 was approved in the county’s 2026 budget for the facilities, with the City of Grand Marais contributing $115,000. In 2024, the county budgeted approximately $291,900 for YMCA facilities.

The building was constructed in 2013, and the county’s 2016 Land Use Guide Plan identified the county as the building’s owner and the YMCA as its manager, with the county responsible for repairs and upkeep.

During the Oct. 20 PHHS meeting, County Administrator Kristin Trebil-Halbersma told parents that county officials were scheduled to meet with YMCA leadership on Friday, Oct. 23 to discuss the closure. Commissioner David Mills said an update would be provided at the next Cook County Board of Commissioners meeting on Oct. 27.

“It’s on all of our radars, and of course it’s not helpful at this moment and hopefully we can find a solution by before the 30th here,” Mills said.

Fiscal Supervisor Plamen Dimitrov provided the director’s update at the PHHS board meeting in the absence of Director Grace Grinager. Dimitrov told parents and other attendees that the Nov. 17 PHHS board meeting would include a presentation on the current state of child care in Cook County.

Mills, who chairs the PHHS board, worked with Trebil-Halbersma to arrange time for parents to address the board, which does not routinely allow public comment.

Board members discussed establishing a public comment period at future PHHS meetings, similar to the one offered at Board of Commissioners meetings. However, the board decided not to allow public comment at future meetings until members could discuss a potential format with Grinager.

Audio of the parents’ comments and the board’s responses at the Oct. 20 PHHS meeting is available below.

*The county’s meeting audio recording begins partway through Gina Joyce’s public comment at the Cook County PHHS Board meeting.

WTIP’s Kalli Hawkins contributed to this report.

Josh Hinke October 20, 2026