Tyrone council adopts rental fee schedule, votes to keep Veterans Park gazebo passive

The Tyrone City Council voted to adopt a townwide facility rental fee schedule and to keep Veterans Park a passive memorial space, clarifying how the new Shamrock Park stage and other town facilities will be rented and monitored.

Staff presented a drafted fee schedule that codified existing practice: Roger Spencer building refundable security deposit $150 and rental $100 an hour (up to four hours); Shamrock Park picnic pavilion refundable deposit $150 and rental $75 an hour; and the new stage (Shamrock Park stage/pavilion) refundable deposit $300 and rental $125 an hour (up to four hours). Staff said the town historically used these rates but had not formally added them to the consolidated fee schedule.

Council considered whether Veterans Park and its gazebo should remain a passive memorial area. Several council members objected to allowing parties at a veterans' memorial and argued for preserving the park as a quiet space for ceremonies. A motion to designate Veterans Park as a passive park passed; the existing scout group reservation will be honored as a grandfathered exception.

Council and staff discussed operational details: use of registration forms, a public message board and shared facility calendars so residents can verify rentals, police notification of organized events, and future installation of internet service and security cameras at the new stage to protect the facility. Staff noted some fees and access rules are tied to county SPLOST funding and that an in-town/out-of-town fee structure would require an ordinance change; the council asked staff to research comparable local policies.

The fee schedule was adopted as presented; council agreed to take up any ordinance amendments (for in-county vs out-of-county rates) later if desired.