MILFORD – Town council raised the rent for the community building and decided to charge a cleaning deposit during its meeting Monday.
Council members agreed to raise the hourly rental fee for the town-owned community building from $20 to $30. They also instituted a $50 deposit, refundable if renters clean up after themselves.
They decided the raise and fees were needed after some renters left the building in poor condition, according to new Clerk-Treasurer Joellen Free.
They settled on the deposit amount after learning the town would pay about $145 a month to clean the building. They agreed on the fee increase after expressing reservation over charging too much.
“I don't think you can rent a better facility for $20,” newly named Council President Doug Ruch remarked, also noting it would be a losing proposition to raise the fee too much.
Service organizations that regularly use the community building are exempt from the fee. Councilmen noted clubs including Kiwanis, Lions, Boy Scouts and 4-H have an agreement with the town since they helped raise funds for the building’s construction.
Ruch was named council president earlier in the meeting and Bob Cockburn vice president. They were sworn in for the year along with newly elected councilman Dan Cochran and Free.
Members also agreed to gather quotes by next month for renovating the EMS living quarters in the fire department building, at the request of Multi-Township EMS. Renovations include installing a window and door, as well as inspecting the building’s sewer lines to see where they need work.
They also approved the yearly contract between Milford and the town fire department, at a cost of about $20,000; and approved about $4,000 in costs for the utilities department, including repairs to two lift stations and a variable drive pump in the sewer plant.
