Warsaw Park Board Tuesday approved increasing the damage deposit fee for renting park facilities.
The board approved increasing the current $225 damage deposit to $300 on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The damage deposit fee Mondays through Thursdays will be $100.The lease agreement states the payment must be made separately from the rental balance and paid in cash or money order.
Upon termination of the lease agreement, the lessor will inspect the premises and evaluate any damages before refunding any or all of the damage deposit.
In the event of damage, the damage deposit will be used to offset the cost of repairs. In addition, the lessor can pursue an action for damages and can recover reasonable attorney fees in addition to all appropriate damages.
The rules and regulations in the lease also include 17 items. The section states absolutely no alcohol is allowed on the premises and all items must be carried in and out the day of the event.
Rae Hilliard, Town and Country Club Garden Club of Warsaw, expressed her concern with not-for-profit organizations holding events at the Center Lake Pavilion not being allowed to set up the night before.
Hilliard suggested the park board consider grandfathering in non-for-profit organizations who have rented the pavilion for its activities to be allowed to set up the day before an event.
President Bill Baldwin said the board will need to seek advice from city attorney Mike Valentine to see if non-for-profit organizations could be grandfathered in to be allowed to set up the day before as allowed in the past.
"I can assure you none of the board is unsympathetic to what you are saying. We've tossed it around and it does seem unfair that a non-for-profit organization has to pay $300 to set up the day of the event instead of the night before," Baldwin said.
Park Board member Toby Sumpter said she did not have a problem with grandfathering in non-for-profit organizations.
In other business, Park Superintendent Jon Garber gave an update on the Center Lake shoreline stabilization project.
He said V3 Co., Woodridge, Ill., is working on feasibility and design studies for the project.
Garber said in January or February he expects to have a proposal from the company for the specific site for the project.
"Over the years erosion has occurred on the shoreline," Garber said.
He said the project would include using plants and glacial stone for shoreline stabilization.
"Using native deep-rooted plants will help keep the habitat geese from coming on the shore," Garber said.
Garber said the approximate cost of the project would be $122,000 with the parks department funding 10 to 20 percent of the project.
The parks department currently has grant money for the engineering of the project, and a Lakes and River Enhancement grant will be sought for construction. The grant application is due by Jan. 15.
