Officials have approved a new rental fee for Paper Mill Island.
Beginning in 2012, the village will charge $1,000 per day (Monday through Sunday) to rent the island. Due to previous years’ losses, there will be no exemptions and no freebies. However, organizations can come before the board to request a change.
“If it makes sense to [adjust the rate], I’m sure we’d act accordingly,” said Trustee Rick Presley, a member of the committee presenting the change.
According to Presley, the village had been operating at $12,000 to $13,000 in losses some years with the previous rate, which at $725 per day (Friday through Sunday) and $325 per day (Monday through Thursday) hadn’t been changed in more than six years. Losses were due in part to services the village provided through the department of public works (cleaning and maintaining the island for events) and police department (security and patrol during events) that weren’t figured into island usage. If the village were to stop renting the island, Presley said the village would break even. However, that is not something officials wanted to do.
The new rental fee is in addition to trash removal costs. Other factors such as security deposits will remain the same. Six dates have already been reserved for next year; renters will be offered a refund or can pay the difference to retain the dates.
