Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Tekoa has set new rates for use of its community center after debate at the Sept. 16 city council meeting.
The matter began with Mayor Troy Wilson asking the council if they wanted to discuss the matter then or wait until after the November elections – in which five council seats are up for re-election with two contended.
The matter went ahead and Alyssa Heagy requested a sliding scale rental rate for non-profit groups and committees, from the previous rates of $25 in summer and $40 in winter, for all groups.
“The single rate, people thought it was a little punitive,” said Councilman Roy Schultz.
Wendy Sienknecht made a motion to pass what the advisory committee recommended. No second followed. The advisory committee included residents along with council representatives Bethany Fletcher, Heagy and Sienknecht.
Heagy followed Sienknecht's motion with a proposal to change the rate to $10 for up to eight hours for classes, youth groups, senior groups and non-profits, and put the private event charge at $75 for 0-4 hours and $125 for 4-8 hours.
Councilman Schulz seconded the motion and Dave Tysz, Heagy and Lee Burchfield voted yes. Fletcher and Sienknecht voted no.
The former Tekoa JayCees club is in the midst of remodeling. It has been the recipient of two county .09 grants in the last two years, totaling $62,500.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
Reader Comments(0)