TURMBULL COUNTY Nonprofit groups will now pay to use shelter house

The change is effective immediately.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Nonprofit groups will pay the same as city employees to rent the Packard Park Shelter House.
The Packard Board of Trustees approved the new rate structure at a meeting Friday. Previously, nonprofit groups were able to use the shelter house for free.
Citing money spent to repair, heat and cool the shelter house, board members decided to charge nonprofit groups $160 to use the facility Monday through Friday and $175 to use it on weekends and holidays.
Effective now
That's the same rate charged to city employees. The change is effective immediately.
Board members have said that requests for fee waivers have been increasing, and some groups use the shelter house annually. So far this year, there have been 48 paid and 23 nonpaid events.
Rates for other groups, $215 during the week and $225 for weekends and holidays, will remain the same.
All fees include a $50 deposit, which is refunded if the shelter house is cleaned and no damage is found. The fee allows groups use of the building from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Only one event is booked per day.
The city will still be able to use the facility for emergencies or training purposes free of charge, said Paul McCombs, board member.
City council members who use the shelter house for ward meetings also will be able to continue to use it without charge.
John Bentz, board president, said nonprofit groups that want to rent the shelter house will be asked to provide proof of their nonprofit status.