Urbana council approves temporary meeting-space deal with Middlesex Volunteer Fire Department

The Urbana Town Council voted to adopt a temporary agreement to hold public meetings at the Middlesex Volunteer Fire Department event hall, paying $100 per meeting to cover utilities and related costs.

Staff member (speaker 7) told the council the fire-department event hall is accessible and large enough to host council meetings, planning commission hearings and other public bodies while the town’s new council chamber is being established. The proposal documents a previously verbal arrangement and specifies a per-meeting contribution to offset heating, cooling and electricity.

"That verbal agreement had been reached," the staff member said, asking each councilor to consider the per-meeting fee and to provide feedback. Councilors and staff estimated the town’s annual cost could be roughly $3,000 if meeting frequency is high, though members noted the figure would vary by month and by how many meetings are consolidated.

Committee member (speaker 3) moved to adopt the agreement; the motion was seconded by Chair (speaker 1). The council then conducted a roll-call vote. Recorded yes votes in the transcript were: Mister Chaney (yes), Miss Courtney (yes), Mary Hansen (yes) and Mister Wilson (yes). The motion was recorded as adopted in that roll call.

Some councilors raised scheduling and cost questions. Committee member (speaker 3) suggested consolidating hearings where possible to limit meetings, while others said the location is a practical short-term solution that avoids repeated equipment moves and is cooperative with the fire department.

The staff member said the town will continue to evaluate alternatives and that the arrangement is intended to be temporary until a permanent council chambers is available. The agreement applies to public meetings of town bodies until a permanent facility is constructed.