The cost for several services offered by Richmond Park’s and Recreation Department were increased Tuesday after the city commission adopted three orders establishing new usage rates for facilities.
The city’s parks and recreation center, at 321 N. Second Street, often is rented for birthdays, family dinners and other events.
However, “... rates must be established to cover the costs of expenses for the use of the facility,” the order reads.
The previous hourly rate for use of the building’s basement or gymnasium of $12 an hour has been increased to $30 per hour.
The building’s facilities are available for use any time between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, and is reserved in hourly increments only.
Use of the basement or gymnasium never has required a deposit, but the new order mandates a $50 cash deposit that is refundable a week after rental if the facility is left clean and is not damaged.
The renter is responsible for cleaning the facility, and cleaning materials will be supplied, according to the order.
There is no charge for the building’s use for meetings Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.
Facility user rates for the Betty Miller Center on N. Estill Avenue have increased from $45 a day to $30 an hour, and can be used between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
Use of the facility also requires a $50 refundable cash deposit.
There is no charge for groups to use the center for meetings Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Rates for the parks and recreation’s after-school program also increased, but much to the dismay of Amy McDowell, director of the city’s after-school program.
The rate increases came to her from city government administration so that the program can remain self-sufficient, McDowell said.
“The program has been losing money for a long time, and I think (city government administration) is just now realizing how much it was losing,” she said.
All city department heads previously were asked by Interim City Manager Jimmy Howard to cut their department budget by at least 5 percent.
“We did not want to have to do this, but in order for us to be able to maintain our program and provide good programming for the kids, we needed more funding,” McDowell said.
Tuition for children arriving at the parks and recreation building before 3 p.m. have increased from $25 a week to $40 a week. These rates are for children who are considered full-time, meaning they attend the center four to five days a week.
The fee for children of part-time status, meaning they only attend the center one to three days a week and arrive before 3 p.m., has increased from $6 a day to $9 a day.
Fees for children of full-time status who arrive at the center after 3:30 p.m. have increased from $25 a week to $35 a week, and children of part-time status arriving after 3:30 p.m. will be charged $8 per day, rather than the previous fee of $6 per day.
“Families with two or more children will receive a $5 discount on the full-time rate that applies to the second and subsequent children,” the order reads.
The half-day preschool/kindergarten program, which is available Monday through Friday between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m., now is being provided for a charge of $50 per week.
Ronica Shannon can be reached at rshannon@richmondregister.com or 624-6608.
Local News
City raises facility fees
Funding needed to maintain parks and rec programming
- Local News
-
-
Friday at library : Lecturer to portray founder of Berea
John G. Fee, abolitionist and founder of both Berea and Berea College, will be portrayed Friday night by performer Obadiah Ewing-Roush as part of Kentucky Humanities Council Chautauqua performance series at the Madison County Public Library. There is no charge to attend the 7 p.m. event.
As the son of a slave-holding father, Fee witnessed firsthand the benefits of having slaves and the profits that could be made from their labor. When he graduated from college and enrolled in Lane Theological Seminary, he began to understand the inherent wrong and destructiveness of slavery. -
Berea woman dies Tuesday in Laurel County crash
A Berea woman, Tommie Johnson, 60, died Tuesday evening in a Laurel County crash, according to the the Laurel Sheriff’s Office.
The accident took place about 7 p.m. at the junction of Maple Grove Road and KY 363 south of London, as Johnson was attempting to turn onto the state highway.
Laurel County Chief Deputy Eddy Sizemore said Johnson’s Chevrolet Cavalier pulled out in front of a Dodge Durango driven by Charles Joseph, 19, that was traveling south on KY 363.
After being extricated from her vehicle, Johnson was transported to St. Joseph-London hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Joseph also was transported to the hospital, where he was treated for minor injuries, according to the accident report. -
Finally February
Ian Rosser, an Eastern Kentucky University student from Lexington, clears snow from his car parked on campus Wednesday
morning after about an inch of snow fell in Richmond. Temperatures are forcast to be in the upper 40s today. Kentucky has seen a lot of rain in the past few months, as was predicted by the Farmer's Almanac, but very little snow has fallen. -
Volunteers needed for equine therapy
The Appalachian Foothills Therapeutic Equestrian Center will be hosting two, one-day volunteer training workshops for those interested in helping others with special needs.
The volunteer orientation days will be Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., but only one day of training is required, according to Mark Martin who co-owns Appalachian Foothills Therapeutic Equestrian Center (AFTEC) with his wife Cheryl.
The all-volunteer organization, which is based in Jackson County, uses horses to help humans deal with physical and emotional challenges. -
Man accused of holding samurai sword to girlfriend’s throat
A Madison grand jury will hear the case of a man accused of threatening to cut his girlfriend’s head off, and attacking her father with a samurai sword.
Russell M. Masters, 42, of Richmond, is charged with two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment, which is a Class D felony, and fourth-degree assault (domestic violence with minor injury) and resisting arrest, which both are Class A misdemeanors. Masters could receive one to five years in prison on each wanton endangerment charge, and the misdemeanors both carry a maximum sentence of one year in jail. -
Arrest made in connection with stolen jewelry, computer
Richmond police have made an arrest in connection with property stolen from two homes last fall.
A woman reported to police Monday that she had discovered several items that were missing from her home on South Killarney Drive and her grandmother’s home on Raintree Drive, according to Richmond Police Chief Larry Brock. The items were a set of gold hoop earrings, a white Sony Vaio laptop, a yellow gold heart pendant, a gold tennis bracelet and a ladies’ wedding band with a diamond setting.
The complainant said the belongings had gone missing sometime between August and October. -
US 25 business owners scared of five-lane plan
Voices of Berea business owners upset about upcoming construction on US 25 will be taken to the state level, according to city administrator Randy Stone.
Several people operating businesses along a section of US 25 gave comments Tuesday to the Berea City Council, asking them reconsider plans to widen the road to five lanes.
The design is a five-lane highway with a center turn lane and a 10-foot shared use path on one side and a 5-foot sidewalk on the other side. -
Grand jury to hear copper theft case
The attorney for a man accused of stealing copper from a handful of electric poles questioned his identification as the same person who took copper from 32 poles two days earlier.
Public defender Meena Mohanty questioned Richmond police officer Nicholas Duvall during a preliminary hearing Wednesday in Madison District Court. Her client, Jeffrey W. Nester, 46, of Fourth Street, was arrested in connection with a Jan. 23 copper theft. He is charged with second-degree criminal mischief, theft by unlawful taking, possession of burglary tools and failure to notify address change to the Department of Transportation. These charges are all misdemeanors that, at most, carry a sentence of one year in prison. -
Judge weighs constitutionality of legislative redistricting
Kentucky’s deadline for filing to run for legislative seats was in flux on Monday because a judge did not immediately rule on a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of newly redrawn district boundaries.
Franklin County Circuit Judge Phillip Shepherd said he expects to enter a ruling in the case by mid-week.
-
Couple recovering from injuries suffered in weekend house fire
A couple was hospitalized after their home was set ablaze Sunday by a spark from a cigar, according to a county fire official.
County Fire Chief Jim Cox said the city and county fire departments were called to the home at 111 Concord Road in the early afternoon. Waco Volunteer Fire Department and the Richmond Fire Department also responded.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Video of Ga. Man Who Killed Girl Released
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Nevada Highway Patrol, City Settle Beating Case
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
