Strasburg council debates park-use fees

Strasburg Village Council held a first reading on a resolution to regulate use of village public parks and set rates for certain uses. Park use is currently free.

Council discussed the issue at its Jan. 21 meeting, focusing on whether to set rates for certain uses at Franklin Park. No decision was made, and council plans to continue the discussion.

Wes Hostetler, park committee chairman, said a fee of $600 per day was “not unreasonable.”

“Teams come in and a fee should be charged for using the park. Those attending are also charged to park. The fees would be given to the park fund,” Hostetler said.

Don “Duck” Krantz said organizers could not pay $600 per day.

“We might agree to a percentage of the net, but we can’t pay $600 a day,” Krantz said. He said the softball team operates the concession stand during tournaments as a fundraiser for a spring trip to Myrtle Beach to play in a tournament.

Brent Metzger, a tournament coordinator, said umpires cost about $1,500 and fall ball has been held in the village for 15 years. He said volunteers drag the fields on weekends to keep them playable and the tournaments run from the last week of August into early October.

Mayor Bruce Metzger said the village pays for gas for equipment, fertilizer for the fields and maintenance for the equipment.

Before the meeting, the Board of Zoning Appeals held a public hearing on a request for variances to build a community building on a lot with less than the required square footage and with less than the required left-side and front setbacks. The BZA approved the request.

The village will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for Strasburg’s new community center at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, at the site on N. Bodmer Avenue next to Village Hall. Mayor Metzger invited the community to attend. The center is expected to be completed in September.

Council also —

— Passed a resolution to renew a 1-mill, five-year tax levy for providing and maintaining fire and emergency equipment. The resolution will be sent to the county auditor for certification.

— Approved purchase of 10 additional banner brackets for downtown at a cost of $300 and approved $3,850 for a radar speed sign on Ninth Street SW to replace a current sign.

— Heard land procurement has been returned to Willis Group Realty and SSB Bank to provide an estimated project for development tied to a proposed land purchase on Dundee-Strasburg Road, totaling $864,540 for utilities, curbs, engineering and land purchase.

— Heard there are vacancies on the Board of Zoning Appeals and the village planning commission. Those interested may contact Mayor Metzger at 220-878-7115.

— Learned a new dentist office on S. Wooster Avenue is expected to begin construction in the spring.

— Passed a resolution declaring a large tree overhanging S. Wooster Ave. a public nuisance after parts of the tree dropped onto the street.

Other items

The village received an in-kind donation of $25,000 from the Kimble Foundation for the new community center. Lucky Tree Service removed trees and shrubs behind Village Hall and on Bodmer Avenue, and Wolfe Landscaping Solutions will donate landscaping for the project.

Police responded to 88 calls from Jan. 5-20. The fire department responded to 34 calls from Jan. 1-15.

The next council meeting is Feb. 3 at 5:30 p.m. at 224 N. Bodmer Ave.