By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

New fees are proposed for Marion Community Center after Marion Advancement Campaign earlier turned management of the center over to the city.

City council members Monday reviewed a rental agreement written by parks and recreation director Margo Yates, then tabled it until city attorney Susan Robson could do some rewording.

Under her proposal, the school district and city residents would get a break on rental fees and deposits. Nonprofit organizations would get a bigger break.

Residents and the school district would pay $300 for the ballroom; $100 for the conference center; $50 for the kitchen; $35 for the commons; $170 for conference center, ballroom, and kitchen; $75 for commons and kitchen; and a $150 refundable security deposit.

Nonprofits would pay $100 for the ballroom; $25 for the conference center or kitchen; no rental for the commons; $125 for conference center, ballroom, and kitchen; no rental for commons and kitchen; and a $150 refundable security deposit.

Residents of other cities would pay $400 for the ballroom; $125 for the conference center or kitchen; $65 for the kitchen; $45 for the commons; $215 for conference center, ballroom, and kitchen; $95 for commons and kitchen; and a $190 refundable security deposit.

All groups reserving portions of the community center would pay a non-refundable reservation fee of $100 for the ballroom or $50 for the basement.

Council members passed an ordinance increasing municipal court fees and another revising the code of procedures for council meetings.

Requests for an item to be put on the agenda will now be made through the city administrator instead of a council member.

Council members also turned their attention to the upcoming Census count.

City administrator Roger Holter told council members residents will begin getting their first letter March 12 to 20, a reminder letter March 16 to 24, a reminder postcard March 26 to April 3, a reminder letter with a paper questionnaire April 8 to 16, and a final reminder April 20 to 27. After that, if the household still hasn’t participated, Census workers will come to the house.

Holter said Census data is used for more than determining how much money is allotted for federal grants and loans, it is used for nutrition assistance programs such as school lunches and the senior commodity program, Head Start programs, housing programs, energy assistance programs that make needed repairs and provide home insulation, programs that make partial utility payments for low-income residents, and state health insurance programs for children such as used by 25% of Marion’s population.

“This really does affect our community for the next 10 years,” Holter said. “It’s important to us, the schools, the hospital — it’s important to all of us.”