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Madison Twp. considers raising community center fees
(by Linda Dillman - August 19, 2010)
After seven years of holding down costs, the fees for celebrating or meeting at the Madison Township Community Center are going up.
The Madison Township trustees are debating the merits of changing the fee and rate schedule for 2011 and charging township residents and non-profit groups $25 to use the center for four hours or less. Each additional hour remains the same as 2010 at $10 per hour.
Residents and groups presently incur no charge for the first four hours. Non-residents and businesses pay $25 for the first two hours and $15 for each additional hour. Their cost would rise to $40/$20.
For parties involving teenagers (ages 13-19), a special duty police officer is required and paid at the prevailing per-hour rate. Depending on the nature and size of the activity, an officer may be required for other occasions.
There is still no charge for township school district meetings or for any organization in which the township is a member.
In a proposed draft letter to residents, Administrator Larry Flowers wrote, "The township has not increased the rates since 2003. Due to the constant use and high cost of maintaining the quality of the community center, it is now unavoidable to implement a rate increase effective Jan. 1, 2011."
Trustee Susan Brobst said the trustees received information and suggested rates from the staff, in addition to data on the number and type of rentals booked at the community center. She said the trustees need to make their decision in a timely manner because reservations for the following year begin after Labor Day.
Brobst also discussed the township's policy of allowing employees to use the center free of charge and felt if the process continued, it should be limited to a couple of times a year. While Trustee Victor Paini felt there did not appear to be an abuse of the policy, he wondered if it was the right thing to do to permit employees to have free access.
"I feel strange if we get it free and the residents have to pay," stated Paini.
Firefighter Ed Dildine, Jr., a Groveport council member, said the village does not charge residents to use facilities such as Groveport Town Hall or the log house. Canal Winchester Development Director Chris Strayer reported there are separate resident and non-resident rates, but nothing is free for employees.
"We do need to do upgrades like replacing the carpet," commented Flowers. "We've had to replace chairs and tables. It's becoming harder to keep the room presentable."
Although the trustees did not render a final decision during their Aug. 18 meeting, Brobst said, "If we could, I'd like to get it taken care of before Labor Day."
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