Commission fails tax payers again?
By Mark Vierthaler
Dodge City Daily Globe
The Dodge City Commission approved doubling usage fees for Hoover Pavilion, citing increased demand in usage, increasing operation prices and large maintenance costs.
Paul Lewis, director of parks and recreation, said the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board had recommended the price increase after comparing prices with similar venues around the city.
Hoover Pavilion, which recently re-opened after a five-year renovation project, is often used for family gatherings such as reunions and weddings, as well as for-profit meetings involving businesses.
The new fees would raise the $150 charge for not-for-profit private gatherings to $300. The cost of commercial, for-profit gatherings would double from $250 to $500. Short-term meeting rates went from $20 to $40 an hour.
Lewis said some events held at the pavilion also required the city to provide security. Security services would increase to $15 an hour.
Dan Reichenborn, a former school teacher and president of the USD 443 Board of Education, said he was opposed to the prices being raised for family reunions.
"My family has been using Wright Park for family reunions since 1947," he said.
Reichenborn said he felt it was unfair that the city would implement larger fees on a building already funded through tax money. He said it was difficult to compare Hoover Pavilion to things such as the VFW, because the city isn't in it to make a profit.
City Commissioner Terry Lee was the one dissenting vote to not raise the fees, echoing Reichenborn's feelings that family reunions shouldn't face an increase. Lee said he felt it was allowable to double the business fees, as those who used it for such purposes stood to make a profit. City Commissioner Jim Sherer, although he voted in favor of the increase in fees, also opposed the doubling of fees for private not-for-profits. Although he said he understood Hoover Pavilion to be the premier facility in Dodge City, he didn't want to see people stop using it because it cost too much.
He voted in favor of the fee, he said, because the advisory board did recommend the numbers. The advisory board consists of members of the public who volunteer to sit on the boards.
Mayor Kent Smoll, Vice-Mayor Rick Sowers and City Commissioner Jim Lembright all said they felt the prices were fair and would allow the city to compete with other hosting venues around the city.
Reach Mark Vierthaler at (620) 408-9932 or e-mail him at
mark.vierthaler@dodgeglobe.com
Commissioners Smoll, Sowers and Limbright said they felt the prices were fair and would allow the city to compete with other hosting venues around the city. WHAT? How is raising the fee allowing the city to compete with other venues? Am I missing something here?
IMO... Commissioner Sherer made little sense in his reasoning as to why he supported the fee increase. Bottom line...the advisory board recommends something...he'll vote for it.
I agree with Commissioner Lee, again. He seems to be the only commissioner who takes the time to listen to the people and vote accordingly.
What do you think?