By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
Faced with ongoing budget constraints, Union Grove officials are contemplating a proposal to charge the local Chamber of Commerce organization a rental fee to use village facilities.
The Village Board’s Administration/Finance Committee discussed the issue Tuesday, but took no action. The Greater Union Grove Area Chamber of Commerce pays the village $400 for cleaning services, but has not paid rent to house operations within Village Hall.
Amid deliberations of the 2012 budget, the committee on Oct. 4 directed Clerk-Treasurer Janice Winget to put out inquiries to other municipalities through networking in an effort to obtain comparables.
According to documents shared with committee members, respondents across the state indicated their respective chamber organizations generally do not pay rent, are charged a nominal fee or chip in with utility costs. Cooperation between the governing entity and the chamber was a common theme.
“We have had the Chamber of Commerce in City Hall for many years; we do not charge them any rent,” wrote Tony Slagstad, clerk-treasurer in the City of Barron, a community in northwestern Wisconsin. “Our deputy city clerk-treasurer is the secretary for the chamber and does some chamber work while on city time. Seems to work out well.”
In the Village of Winneconne in central Wisconsin, Clerk Jaci Stelzner said her community charges the local chamber organization $1,200 annually to rent space within the municipal center.
The fee includes utilities, including lawn care, snow removal, electricity, gas, cleaning, maintenance and water.
“Where else can you rent for $100 per month?” Stelzner said.
The Village of Egg Harbor in Door County has a close relationship with their chamber because of tourism.
“Our Village Visitor Center and Business Association headquarters is located in a building owned by the village on our property for a $1 per year lease fee,” Clerk-Treasurer Patricia Gureski wrote. “In other words, nothing.”
After hashing over the issue at Tuesday’s committee meeting, the two Union Grove Village Board members in attendance decided to hold the item over. Chairman Gordon Svendsen said the rental proposal will remain under consideration.
The village does have a fee agreement with the Town of Yorkville, which rents space within the Union Grove municipal building for its Town Hall.
Yorkville leases 1,870 square feet within the facility, including three offices, storage space and a boardroom. The town is charged $1,650 per month at a rate of about 88 cents per square foot.
The Union Grove Village Board is scheduled to act on the 2012 budget Monday, Nov. 28.
See Page 4 for more coverage of the Village Board meeting.
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