Council approves half-refund for renter, orders rental-form changes after auditorium flooding

The Okolona City Council voted to refund half of Sandra Collins’s rental fee for the city auditorium after water from a rainstorm flooded the venue during a Nov. 22 event.

Chair (S1) told the council the auditorium’s drain problem has been ongoing for years and showed visible evidence of grease and food causing blockages. “We refund our 0.5 of her money back, and then we amend our application,” Chair (S1) said, recommending the application include a clear disclosure of known issues and an "enter at your own risk" acknowledgement.

Why it matters: Council members said returning a portion of the fee balances customer fairness with the city’s policy constraints. Committee member (S5) urged the city to make the amendment ‘ironclad’ to limit future negative publicity and to prevent repetitive claims from hurting future rentals.

What the council decided: Committee member (S6) moved to refund 50% of Collins’s rental fee and to amend the rental application to identify existing facility issues and require a signed risk acknowledgment; the motion was seconded and the council approved the action.

Council directions and next steps: Chair (S1) instructed staff to draft amended rental language and a memorandum documenting the known drain issue for future renters; the change will be implemented in the application after board approval and placed on file. Staff were also asked to inspect and follow up on the drain repair work referenced in the discussion.

The motion to refund and amend the policy was approved during the meeting; no further appeal or subsequent vote was recorded.