DUP members ask Mona to formalize community‑center use; council permits this year and will draft policy

Representatives of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers (DUP) asked Mona City for a written resolution or contract to formalize a long‑standing practice of allowing nonprofit and community groups to use the community building without charge. Speakers said past practice began under prior administrations and much was handled as verbal agreements and handshake arrangements (DUP members S9 and S8).

A DUP speaker described work the group performs—preserving the cabin in Pioneer Park, maintaining a bell and monument, and organizing the city celebration—and said those public services support a fee waiver under the statute the group cited during the meeting (DUP member, S9).

City staff recommended creating a single, general facility‑use policy that states the expectations for all city facilities, attaches a rental‑agreement form as an appendix, and avoids ad hoc differential treatment. The staff member said a standard policy would make decisions defensible and consistent and allow the city to handle specific individual agreements through a defined process (Staff member, S5).

Budget and fundraising: DUP members said their celebration fundraising is modest (about $2,000) and that the group uses proceeds to maintain historic assets such as the Pioneer Park cabin. Council members and staff acknowledged the community‑center budget is tight and discussed accommodation options for the current year.

Short‑term outcome: With limited time in the work session, the council agreed to let the DUP use the kitchen and a smaller room for this year’s celebration and to explore a shared approach to the community center going forward. Staff will draft a policy or resolution to clarify use, fee waivers, and whether specific civic organizations merit ongoing exceptions; the fee‑schedule discussion was postponed to a future meeting.

What remains to be decided: The council asked staff to return with formal policy language, including any conditions for fee waivers, whether to permit commercial rentals, and how the city will prioritize competing requests from other nonprofits and groups. The DUP and council members emphasized a desire to collaborate on a solution that preserves local traditions while meeting legal and fiscal requirements.