July 1 Brings Rental Rate Increase To Town Hall

By Kendra Bobowick

The cost of doing businesses will rise as of July 1 for those using the Edmond Town Hall’s facilities. Inflation has again cornered Board of Managers members into a decision to increase rates for space rentals in the gymnasium, theater, and various rooms used by the community regularly or for special events. Movie ticket prices are untouched, however.

Speaking up during a lengthy discussion was board member James Juliano who said,  “It stands to reason that costs are going up [for] oil, supplies, etc, and people have to understand that.”

The price hikes closely followed news of the financial load straining town hall coffers during the board’s April 11 meeting. Chairman Jay Gill sighed at the mention of a roughly $8,000 heating bill for just one month. Rate increases are not necessarily business as usual. Member Sandra Motyka said, “We don’t raise [rents] every year, we have not done so regularly.”

Mr Gill has mixed feelings about this increase. He said, “I think it’s fair. I wish it didn’t have to be done, but it has to.”

Unlike a previous attempt to raise rates that instead raised a few tempers, Mr Gill plans to give fair warning to private groups such as the Friends of Music, who previously had not received enough notice to adjust their own ticket prices. The user’s fee of $500 per concert has been bumped up by $100.

Thoughts of asking $650 were quickly knocked down when Mr Gill considered $600 saying, “They would be happier with that.”

The Friends of Music group also holds appeal for board member Sandra Motyka.

She noted, “They are the base for building a different kind of business.” She is anticipating the future. Ms Motyka has been brainstorming on ways to market the Edmond Town Hall and thinking long-range regarding potential uses for its space once municipal offices relocate to a newer facility at Fairfield Hills.

Cost Of Doing Business

Activities will see moderate increases of within roughly $50 or less to $100 as of July 1. Prices will rise for one-time bookings for weddings or banquet dinners in the Alexandria Room with its adjoining kitchen space, for example. The theater is also an area often rented for isolated events as compared to rooms occupied weekly or spaces reserved regularly by groups including Weight Watchers, Friends of Music, a dog obedience meeting, and Lathrop School of Dance, which holds recitals.

Few have avoided the rate hikes, although Mr Gill has passed on the chance to collect increased dues from only a handful of groups.

“The Rocking Roosters are having a tough time paying,” he said. Noting the struggle to maintain an interest, Mr Gill and the board chose to hold off on certain rental increases. The Rocking Roosters Square Dance Club offers classes in Western-style square dance each fall depending on interest, according to a description provided in the Newtown Bee Guide To Newtown. The rate increases vary from one organization to another.

Other increased fees include deposits for the gymnasium’s events, where furniture or tables are often damaged, confirmed Mr Kathan. The Alexandria Room’s accompanying silverware and china are irreplaceable, said Mr Gill, which prompts the board to impose higher rates in case something is damaged. Prices for private parties, recitals in the theater, and weddings all will go up. The gymnasium rental rates will increase hourly and per events that last all day. Antique shows and dog shows set up in the gymnasium occasionally, and groups use the theater for recitals.

Of most interest to the public is the Alexandria Room rentals accommodating parties, rehearsals, weddings, recitals, and more. Prices are as follows: Parties, $350; Nonprofit, $250; recitals, $250; weddings, $600; additional china and silverware, $100. Birthday parties held in the meeting rooms will be $30. Theater rental prices for private groups will remain the same, $1,000 for weeknights and $1,200 for weekends. Gymnasium wedding rentals will be $500 and birthday parties prior to 6 pm will remain at $30. Evening parties are $250. All day functions will cost $500, or $400 for nonprofit groups. Damage deposits for functions are $200. Theater meetings will be $600.