Clarkston council debates cutting community center rental fees, considers $100 damage deposit

Council members spent a significant portion of the Jan. 20 meeting reviewing the town's master fee schedule and proposed changes to community center, pavilion and amphitheater rental policies.

A council member suggested reducing the security deposit from $200 to $50 and either setting a small flat rental fee (proposed $20–$25) or eliminating the rental fee for residents because taxpayers already support the facility. Several members supported a resident/nonresident differential and exemptions for local nonprofits and youth groups.

Councilors raised the potential for damage from rentals and discussed increasing the refundable damage deposit to $100 to cover repairs (one speaker said, "Somebody quails somebody claims their head against sheetrock wall, and you get a compact sheetrock wall paint"). The meeting record shows councilors advocating for a clear contract and pre/post-use walk-through checklist so deposits could be withheld only for documented damage.

On pavilion and amphitheater use, members noted the town may not own the pavilion (it may be church-owned) and agreed to review any lease agreement before deciding whether to charge rental fees. The amphitheater currently lists a $50 usage fee; councilors proposed waiving the fee when the user group agrees to clean the site and keep restrooms maintained.

Holly (town clerk) was asked to circulate the current rental contract and checklist to council members. The council asked staff to return with proposed contract wording and a refined fee schedule for a future meeting.