Packard Shelter House rental fees rise to cover maintenance

Renters must now pay a $50 security deposit before reserving the facility.
WARREN -- Rental rates have increased at Packard Shelter House to cover the city's cost for maintenance.
Packard Park Board of Trustees agreed to increase rates Thursday, saying the city was not breaking even because rental rates were lower than what it costs to maintain the facility.
Frank Tempesta, the city's director of operations, told board members it costs the city $137 a day during the week for utilities and upkeep at the shelter house. Because of overtime, the weekend cost is $153 per day, he noted.
The cost to rent the shelter house, located in Packard Park on Mahoning Avenue N.W., has been $125.
Tempesta suggested the weekday rate be raised to $185, with the rental fee boosted to $200 for Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.
Final agreement: The board instead agreed to a compromise suggested by member Linda Metzendorf, to increase the weekday rate to $160; the weekend and holiday rate will be $175.
Organizations and individuals requesting rental after 10:30 a.m. March 8 would pay the new rate, the board said.
City employees will receive a discounted rental rate of $110 per day during the week, and $125 per day on weekends.
The board said it recorded 110 rentals in 2000; about 10 percent of those came from city employees.
Deposit: The board also agreed to institute a requirement that all renters pay an up-front $50 security deposit that will be refunded in a month or less if no damage is found.
A portion of money generated at the shelter house will be put into a capital improvement fund so funds are available for routine and emergency upgrades, Tempesta said.
A new board policy prohibits renters from decorating the walls and ceiling at the shelter house. Tables can be decorated, but Tempesta said thumbtack holes ruin the walls and tape wears away paint.
The board also did away with a policy that allowed the shelter house to be rented for four hours instead of a full day.
Metzendorf said the board will revisit rental rates in January 2002 after a discussion of finances.
Tempesta said he would look into rumors that an area organization has used the shelter house once a week, since about 1984, to play pingpong.
He said there is no documentation to show what group it is, how it's been able to get into the shelter house, or if it has paid any rental fees. He noted that the group's pingpong tables are stored in the shelter house.