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Published Monday, January 12, 2009 in Local

Senoia allowing rental of stone lodge at Marimac Lakes

By Sarah Fay Campbell

The Newnan Times-Herald

After an extensive discussion, the Senoia City Council agreed to make the stone lodge at Marimac Lakes available to the public for rentals, but at quite a price.

At a workshop held on park issues Friday, the council agreed to charge a daily rental rate of $500 for Senoia residents and $750 for non-residents, plus a $250 deposit. Events at the lodge are limited to no more than 45 people.

The changes discussed at the workshop won't be official until the council votes at a future meeting on an ordinance including the recommendations.

The city recently undertook extensive renovations to the stone lodge, and it was furnished with local antiques by the Senoia Downtown Development Authority.

Because of the new renovations and the antiques there were some concerns about renting out the space.

Mayor Robert Belisle asked each councilman to give his thoughts on the rental of the building.

City Administrator Richard Ferry took the cost of the renovation, and the needed yearly maintenance and operations, to determine how much rent would have to be for the building to pay for itself. If rented 20 times a year, the needed rate would be $560. "I don't think anybody would take at that," Ferry said.

The biggest concern was with children's birthday parties.

"Fifteen kids running through here would destroy this place," said Councilman Maurice Grover.

When the city undertook the renovation, it was not for an events center, Ferry said. The main reason was so that the council, and other city boards and authorities, would have an additional place to meet.

"I think it is a shame to have something this nice that everybody can't use, but I don't want to see it destroyed either," Grover said.

Councilman Bobby Graham said he had a problem with spending taxpayer money to renovate a building that wouldn't be opened to the public. He doesn't want anything to happen to the building; but, he said, "people who are willing to spend the kind of money we should probably be charging are going to probably be willing to take care of it like we hope."

There was some discussion about trying to limit rentals to certain types of events. But if the city tries to do that, Belisle said, "I think you would get taken to court."

DDA Chairwoman Suzanne Helfman said she has mixed feelings about renting out the space. "When we first did this, renting it really wasn't in our thoughts," she said. If they had intended for it to be rented, the furnishings would have probably been different. But then, "there wouldn't be the desire that people have, looking in the windows."

Renters who want to have alcohol at their event will have to have it served by a caterer with an alcohol license. Requiring service by a licensed caterer reduces the city's liability and helps ensure that there will be no underage drinking.

The council also made some changes to the rental process for the Freeman-Sasser building at the Seavy Street Park.

Renters will now have to pay a $100 deposit to hold their reservation. Formerly, the deposit was $50 or $75 if the kitchen was used, and nothing was required to hold a spot. Assistant Clerk Linda Denny said there had been some issues with people never showing up to take advantage of their reservation -- and not paying anything, even though the city possibly missed out on other renters because that date was taken.

Ferry also calculated the break-even cost for the Freeman-Sasser building, including previous renovations, maintenance and operations, and a new roof sometime in the future.

The cost would be $215 if there were 68 rentals per year. In 2008, there were 79 rentals, and the building was closed for two moths for the renovations. But Ferry expects that the total number of rentals will go down when the price is increased. Currently, rental is $115.

After a lengthy discussion, the council decided to set the rate at $175 for residents and $200 for non-residents.

The council also discussed park rules and regulations, particularly those regarding dogs and smoking in parks, and discussed holding a town hall meeting to get input on the plans for the Merrimac Lakes park.

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