The Voice of the Community Since 1909, Serving Moorcroft and Pine Haven, Wyoming
The Voice of the Community Since 1909, Serving Moorcroft and Pine Haven, Wyoming
The Pine Haven Town Council will look to a community to oversee usage of the building as a place for local gatherings.
The community center was used by the Over the Hill Gang and Royal Neighbors of America recently to host a dinner for veterans
More than a year ago, the Pine haven Community Center opened; at first only to community groups such as the seniors and other civic events. After the first year, though, the building has been rented out to the public at no charge.
The subject of charging for private events has not formally been discussed by council, however. At the council's last meeting, Councilwoman Kristi Speed opened the subject, saying, "I think we need to charge."
She referred to a birthday party that was held in the facility, saying, "They had it for six-seven hours; free heat [and] free lights. They cleaned the place fabulously, I went and checked and everything was wonderful, but I think we need to charge, I don't think it should be free."
Mayor Karla Brandenburg agreed, "Outside the committees [i.e. senior group, beautification alliance and fire auxiliary]; we can exempt them".
"I'm a little opposed to renting it out yet because we're just creating a community center committee that, hopefully, will start doing a lot more activities up there. Do we want to tie it up with rentals when the community can use it?" she added.
This question was answered by Speed and Treasurer Barbara Hardy as Hardy recited a common complaint: "There's never a place in town where people can gather."
Thus the introduction of a community center committee was brought to the fore; the function of this committee, according to the mayor, will be, "To take care of the building, do events, work with the recreation committee and the senior committee and make sure everyone's on the same page. That's the big thing, the senior group, the rec group and the community center all need to work together".
Among their responsibilities, this community committee will be responsible for keeping the calendar of reservations and confirming insurance of the parties renting the facility.
There are currently at least three individuals who are prepared to serve on the committee and they, along with others who will make up a full company, will be officially appointed within the next few council meetings.
