Canal Winchester Messenger - June 12th, 2022

Township community center costs could rise
www.columbusmessenger.com June 12, 2022 - CANAL WINCHESTER MESSENGER - PAGE 3
By Linda Dillman
Staff Writer
The cost for use of the Madison Township
Community Center could go up and no more
free rides for meeting space for non-profits
and other township-based organizations
could be on the horizon.
Madison Township Administrator Susan
Brobst said the rates for the community center,
located at 4575 Madison Lane in Groveport,
have not changed since 2010.
For township residents the cost is $20 for
the first four hours and then $10 for each
additional hour. For non-residents, the cost
is a flat $20 per hour fee. There is no charge
for non-profits, school use, township businesses,
employees, and funeral repasses.
Currently there is no cleaning fee.
In 2019, there were 159 resident reservations,
76 non-resident reservations and 43
reservations at no charge.
Costs, such as changes in sanitation, are
going up and Brobst said the township is not
breaking even on the charges it assesses for
community center use.
“I felt it was time to look at the fee schedule,”
Brobst told the Madison Township
trustees at their May 25 meeting.
She asked the trustees to discuss the fee
schedule and wanted to give the public time
to weigh in on the issue as well before a decision
is made no later than the trustees’
July meeting.
“We need to have a substantial
increase for non-residents. I want to
make sure there is a healthy difference
between what our residents
pay and what non-residents pay.”
- John Pritchard, trustee
Madison Township
“I am recommending no more free use
and a flat cleaning fee of $20,” said Brobst.
“The cost for residents would be $25 per
hour for the first four hours and the same
$10 for each additional hour. Non-residents
would pay a flat $30 per hour. We need to
do something.”
Based on 2019 figures before the pandemic
impacted reservations, Brobst said a
breakdown of average expenditures indicated
each event cost the township approximately
$116. Prices for residents and local
businesses are lower than those for non-residents
since non-residents do not pay property
taxes.
Trustee John Pritchard pointed out the
12 year span since rates were last changed
and said the township is presently just offsetting
costs, but not breaking even.
“We need to have a substantial increase
for non-residents,” said Pritchard. “I want
to make sure there is a healthy difference
between what our residents pay and what
non-residents pay.”
Other township news
•Madison Township Assistant Fire Chief
Chas Adams updated the board regarding a
South Hamilton Road property that was
deemed a nuisance before a second fire resulted
in a call for service.
Adams said the house is extremely dangerous
and was boarded up following the
most recent fire. The Red Cross is assisting
victims who were living in the house even
after extensive damage from the first fire.
“It’s a public health hazard right now,”
said Adams.
•Nuisance properties also resulted in almost
50 being tagged for attention last
week. While property owners rectified
many, seven resulted in action by the township
for trash and 22 for grass. Superintendent
Dave Watkins said a number of spring
rainstorms contributed to the proliferation
of nuisance calls.
“That seems to be a lot more than I remember,”
said Pritchard.
Brobst said the township assesses a prorated
$300 an hour fee if members of
Watkins’ department need to mow a private
residence due to inaction after notification.
Residents are urged to contact the township
office when a property becomes a nuisance
due to trash and/or tall grass.
CW Schools news
Canal Winchester Schools Superintendent
James Sotlar said the district is sticking
with the current four-tier building start
time system for the upcoming 2022-23
school year.
The middle school hours are 7:15 a.m.–
1:35 p.m.; high school is 7:55 a.m.–2:20
p.m.; Winchester Trail is 8:55 a.m.–3:05
p.m.; and Indian Trail is 9:35 a.m. to 3:45
p.m. In addition, lunch prices will remain
the same for the new school year.
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Rick Palsgrove........................Canal Winchester Editor
southeast@columbusmessenger.com
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