St. Albans council approves amended rates for McKinley gym rentals, aims to give nonprofits a break

The St. Albans City Council approved an amended resolution establishing tiered hourly and monthly rental rates for the former McKinley Middle School gym, with a discounted rate column for St. Albans nonprofits and a monthly option intended for recurring users.

Council members debated the structure and operation of the facility before voting. Councilman (Speaker 3) proposed an amendment to the packet to add a clear set of rates — per hour and discounted 4-, 8- and 12-hour blocks — and a 'St. Albans non-profit' rate column intended to lower costs for local schools, churches and nonprofit groups. The amendment also added a monthly option, defined as 32 hours over a 28-day period, for groups that need more frequent access.

Why it matters: Council members said the goal is to make the facility affordable for local youth organizations and community groups while ensuring staffing and security needs are covered. Speaker 3 told the council he had "worked with Kevin Pennington, the with the parks, and he is in full support of everything on here," indicating parks staff backing for the amended structure.

Council discussion emphasized operational details that will affect how the rates work in practice. Speakers raised that many events assume one attendant on duty, but larger events (dances, dinners, performances) may require multiple staff and custodial coverage; Speaker 5 said the superintendent would determine necessary staffing and that overtime or additional hourly compensation (a referenced figure of about $25/hour) should be considered in rental terms. The council also clarified access and security: county-installed chain locks and some door replacements were discussed, police and fire department key-card access was noted, and the mayor cautioned against distributing too many keys to avoid unauthorized access.

The resolution passed by voice vote after a second was recorded; the record indicates a voice approval but does not contain a roll-call tally. Following approval, speakers described intended programming: after-school open gym hours, daytime senior activities such as portable pickleball courts, and rentals for organized teams; Speaker 5 said the city would begin with open hours and then rent time to teams and community events.

Next steps: The amended rates and rental rules are adopted as council policy; staff will implement the scheduling processes and confirm staffing/cleaning requirements for each rental. The council did not provide a published implementation date in the meeting record.