Gadsden County adopts temporary facilities rental policy after hours of debate

The Gadsden County Board voted to adopt a countywide facilities-use policy setting a temporary fee structure and procedural requirements for renting county buildings.

Commissioners debated rate options and administrative discretion for more than an hour, raising concerns about fairness for small nonprofits, the cost of staff overtime and maintenance, and how to structure exceptions. "We really shouldn't be discussing numbers if we haven't submitted them," a commissioner said during back-and-forth debate on rates, arguing for staff-collected market comparisons. Another commissioner argued for a $600 baseline while a motion later set a temporary $800 starting fee for indoor facilities, excluding parks, with additional charges for custodial overtime, technology use and security when required.

The board's motion as adopted required that: fee proposals exclude parks (which remain free), nonprofits be considered for discounted rates or administrative waivers, technology use be limited or costed separately, and events involving alcohol receive board approval. The county attorney noted the draft agreement already allows additional charges for cleaning, repair and staff overtime; commissioners asked for clearer application-level pricing (e.g., tiered technology levels and deposit language) before the policy is finalized.

The motion passed on a recorded voice vote and was entered as an immediate policy direction while staff compiles comparative price data and administrative procedures to refine the schedule. Commissioners directed the administrator and the facilities director to prepare a revised packet addressing technology levels, nonprofit definitions and a clearer set of ancillary charges.

The new policy applies to indoor county facilities such as Stevens School, senior centers and event spaces; parks and outdoor fields were explicitly excluded for separate review.