FALLS CITY – Councilman Frank Killingsworth’s suggestion to waive auditorium fees for fire, rescue and the humane society met with qualified dissent at Monday’s Falls City City Council meeting.

He said the groups use Prichard Auditorium only a few times a year and said waiving the fee would show the city’s appreciation for all they do.

City Administrator Gary Jorn said the city can not support non-profit organizations directly, but has reduced fees for important groups like the fire department.

Mayor Mark Harkendorff said the prior council struggled to reduce the auditorium’s tax reliance and agreed to make no exceptions on rental fees.

Harkdendorff: “We had a lady in here dying of cancer and they wouldn’t waive it, so I personally paid it for the lady.”

Killingsworth suggested that the four organization get the fee exemption, but no one else.

Former City Councilwoman Amber Holle said there are many deserving organizations.

Holle: “I say you go all non-profits are not charged or you charge them all a reduced fee like it is now.”

The rental fee of $250 or $275 is reduced for non-profits to $175.

Harkendorff: “The reason it was done, I was told, was that Prichard was so far in the red that they had to do something probably three or four years ago to try and get it closer to running right. And I think that’s worked. It’s better than it’s ever been.”

Council rejects auditorium fee waivers

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