Fee increase proposed for Lake County Community Center in Ronan
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News from MSU Lake County Extension
RONAN — In 1964-1965 the Ronan Jaycees club had the foresight to build a community center, on the Lake County Ronan fairgrounds, that could serve as a multiple purpose facility.
Since then this building has been maintained and improved with the help of contributors. First by the Jaycees then by the City of Ronan after the J.C’s dis-banded in the mid-1970’s, then in the mid-1990’s Lake County became the proprietor, to accommodate the needs of our communities as a whole.
Availability of a community center for private and public use has benefited Lake County for over 50 years. The Community Center shares a parking lot with Ronan High School Located at 300 Third Ave NW in Ronan. The Center is equipped with a large 50 foot x 100 foot room, a commercially approved kitchen, bathroom facilities, a separate 18 foot x 38 foot meeting room, enough tables and chairs suitable for seating 320 people plus wireless Internet service. Being the only publicly held building of its size between Missoula and Kalispell, the Community Center hosts numerous functions that require a central location, sufficient parking, kitchen facilities, and space for 200-300 people.
Intended to function as a non-profit solely from the income generated by its users. Lake County Community Center is now going through a transition. User fees have held constant for more than 15 years, as the county has subsidized its maintenance and function. Improvement of the facility and increased operating expenses have led to investigating a higher fee for use of the facility. Society has also changed over the years making it essential for Community Center users to have event insurance.
Proposed changes:
1. Any use of the Community Center beginning in 2016 will require event liability insurance, per use agreement specifications. (2016 Community Center Use Agreements are available at the Lake County Courthouse Commissioners office or Lake County Extension Office in Ronan).
2. User fees starting in 2016 will be: $350 per day, and small room $75 per day with a $500 cleaning/damage deposit-refundable when center has been reviewed for cleanliness and lack of damages.
All updates to the 2016 Lake County Community Center Use Agreement can be viewed at the MSU Extension Office in Ronan, or Lake County Commissioner’s office in the County court house in Polson.
During December and until Jan. 19, 2016, Lake County Commissioners are seeking public input on the purposed user fee increases of the Lake County Community Center. A public hearing will be held Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016 at 10 a.m. in the Commissioner’s office at the Lake County Court house. Comments can be submitted by email to: lakecommissioners@lakemt.gov or mail written copy to: Lake County Commissioners 106 Fourth Ave. E, Polson, MT 59860.
