Park Board Discusses Pete Thorn Youth Center Lease, Rental Rates

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.

By JENNIFER PERYAM, Times-Union Staff Writer-

Two agencies that rent the Pete Thorn Youth Center could see an increase in lease and rental rates if approved by the Warsaw Parks and Recreation Board.

The board discussed proposed lease and rental rates for the Boys and Girls Club of Kosciusko County and the Council on Aging and Aged Inc. at its meeting Tuesday night.

Park Board Superintendent Jon Garber said the proposed rent rates cover the cost of three areas including NIPSCO, water and custodial services.

Garber proposed the rent rates include $13,257 annually ($1,104.75 a month) for the Boys and Girls Club of Kosciusko County and $11,523 annually ($960.25 a month) for the Council on Aging and Aged Inc.

Rental and lease rates for 2005 included $5,250 annually ($437.50 a month) for the Boys and Girls Club and $5,950 annually ($495.84 a month) for the Council on Aging and Aged Inc.

Garber said that $18,000 is written into the agreement between Wayne Township and the City of Warsaw to help with operational expenses of the Pete Thorn Youth Center.

He informed the board that NIPSCO expenses for 2005 were $25,586.52 and 2007 projected NIPSCO expenses are $27,000, water expenses for 2005 were $620.53 and 2007 projected water expenses are $700 and custodial services are projected to remain the same as 2005 at $15,080.

Mayor Ernie Wiggins attended the meeting and supported the proposed lease and rental rates, but suggested a payment phase.

"With the rental rates projected to increase, I think it would be a good idea to consider phasing the payments over a three-year period instead of the agencies making payments on a monthly basis," Wiggins said.

He suggested the agencies consider the rates and see if they would work for them.

While formulating proposed new rental rates for the two agencies, there were three items Garber said he considered.

They included area of use available for the two agencies, current hours of operation and proposed hours of operation for the Boys and Girls Club and basic expenses incurred by the Warsaw Parks and Recreation Department

According to Garber, prior to the Wayne Township agreement specifying dollars for the operations of the center before 1996, the agencies were paying higher rents then those currently being paid.

The board agreed to further discuss the proposed lease and rental rates at its October meeting.

Garber presented the board with a letter from Tracy Furnivall, executive director of the Baker Youth Club. The letter informed the board that the club will be leaving the Pete Thorn Center Oct. 31 to move into another facility. Furnivall requested the board allow the club out of its lease agreement with the center for November and December.

The board approved waiving the lease agreement for November and December.

The board also received a letter from Cindi Knepper, executive director of the Boys and Girls Club of Kosciusko County.

The letter requested that when the Baker Youth Club leave the Pete Thorn Center, the building be named the Boys and Girls Club of Kosciusko County.

The board will meet again Sept. 17 at 5:15 p.m. at the Nye Youth Cabin.

Board members are President Bill Baldwin, Vice President John Sadler, Cathy Folk, Steve Haines and Toby Sumpter. [[In-content Ad]]

Two agencies that rent the Pete Thorn Youth Center could see an increase in lease and rental rates if approved by the Warsaw Parks and Recreation Board.

The board discussed proposed lease and rental rates for the Boys and Girls Club of Kosciusko County and the Council on Aging and Aged Inc. at its meeting Tuesday night.

Park Board Superintendent Jon Garber said the proposed rent rates cover the cost of three areas including NIPSCO, water and custodial services.

Garber proposed the rent rates include $13,257 annually ($1,104.75 a month) for the Boys and Girls Club of Kosciusko County and $11,523 annually ($960.25 a month) for the Council on Aging and Aged Inc.

Rental and lease rates for 2005 included $5,250 annually ($437.50 a month) for the Boys and Girls Club and $5,950 annually ($495.84 a month) for the Council on Aging and Aged Inc.

Garber said that $18,000 is written into the agreement between Wayne Township and the City of Warsaw to help with operational expenses of the Pete Thorn Youth Center.

He informed the board that NIPSCO expenses for 2005 were $25,586.52 and 2007 projected NIPSCO expenses are $27,000, water expenses for 2005 were $620.53 and 2007 projected water expenses are $700 and custodial services are projected to remain the same as 2005 at $15,080.

Mayor Ernie Wiggins attended the meeting and supported the proposed lease and rental rates, but suggested a payment phase.

"With the rental rates projected to increase, I think it would be a good idea to consider phasing the payments over a three-year period instead of the agencies making payments on a monthly basis," Wiggins said.

He suggested the agencies consider the rates and see if they would work for them.

While formulating proposed new rental rates for the two agencies, there were three items Garber said he considered.

They included area of use available for the two agencies, current hours of operation and proposed hours of operation for the Boys and Girls Club and basic expenses incurred by the Warsaw Parks and Recreation Department

According to Garber, prior to the Wayne Township agreement specifying dollars for the operations of the center before 1996, the agencies were paying higher rents then those currently being paid.

The board agreed to further discuss the proposed lease and rental rates at its October meeting.

Garber presented the board with a letter from Tracy Furnivall, executive director of the Baker Youth Club. The letter informed the board that the club will be leaving the Pete Thorn Center Oct. 31 to move into another facility. Furnivall requested the board allow the club out of its lease agreement with the center for November and December.

The board approved waiving the lease agreement for November and December.

The board also received a letter from Cindi Knepper, executive director of the Boys and Girls Club of Kosciusko County.

The letter requested that when the Baker Youth Club leave the Pete Thorn Center, the building be named the Boys and Girls Club of Kosciusko County.

The board will meet again Sept. 17 at 5:15 p.m. at the Nye Youth Cabin.

Board members are President Bill Baldwin, Vice President John Sadler, Cathy Folk, Steve Haines and Toby Sumpter. [[In-content Ad]]

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