Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Finance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Local nonprofits urge council to lower fire-hall rental fee for charity events
Summary
Representatives from two small local nonprofits told the Kasson City Council that a new $750 two-day rental quote for the fire hall would sharply reduce funds they return to the community and asked the council to reconsider a reduced or targeted local-nonprofit discount. Council agreed to discuss options in August.
Becky Wheeler, a longtime Kasson resident who identified herself as director of early learning and a CAM parent, told the council her local care-and-share nonprofit raised roughly $40,000 in 2023, $49,000 in 2024 and $55,400 last year and that "every one of those dollars goes back to the Kasson-Manorville community." She said organizers had been quoted $750 for a two-day use of the fire hall this year and asked the council to reconsider the fee because the group returns proceeds to local families.
Roberta, representing the Blaine Halverson Memorial, said her veterans-focused nonprofit likewise depends on event proceeds and that paying a higher fee would divert money the group uses for furnaces, service dogs and other veteran supports. "We made a ton of money" at out-of-town venues that waived fees, she said, and asked for similar consideration for local nonprofits that serve veterans and families.
Council and staff explained the fee increase reflects use of the fire truck bay, additional clean-up and staffing costs and the fact the relief association — which handles alcohol sales at events — receives gambling and liquor profits. The city administrator said staff will discuss the request with the fire relief association and bring options back to the council at its August meeting, noting the council could consider a narrowly drawn local-nonprofit exception or a process for waivers.
The mayor summarized the next step: staff will collect basic cost and revenue figures from the relief association and return a recommendation at the Aug. 19 meeting. No formal policy change was made at this session.
