Florence, Ala. | Monday, May 20, 2013
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City delays decision on rental policy
By Bernie Delinski
TheTimes Daily

Jim Hannon/TimesDaily
The train rotunda and roundhouse building was completed at Tuscumbia’s Railroad Museum in 2012.

TUSCUMBIA — The City Council wants to take one more week to look over a proposed rental policy for the Roundhouse Railroad Museum before taking a vote on it.

Council members seem unanimously in favor of the policy, which will undergo some minor adjustments before being presented at the March 4 meeting.

One addition will call for bands that are performing as part of an event to finish by 9 p.m., Council President Robert Mitchell said Monday.

“There are residences near the depot and we want to consider them,” Mitchell said.

In addition, the final proposal allows city civic groups, school-related functions and tourism-related events to reserve the facility at no cost, he said. Some nonprofit groups also could receive discounts.

“It’s still basically the same policy as we presented in the past,” Mitchell said.

That policy would charge $700 for a full day’s rental of the facility or $100 an hour, with a minimum of four hours.

The rate would increase on holidays to $1,000 for a day or $150 an hour, with a minimum of four hours, Mitchell said.

The council already has approved an ordinance allowing wine, champagne and beer to be served at the functions.

The overall policy won’t need to be in the form of an ordinance. Instead, it will be part of the public parks policy.

Parks and Recreation Director Joel Kendrick said it works out better as a parks policy because it won’t be as rigid.

“I’ll have more working room with groups that might have to vary from the policy in some form,” Kendrick said.

The roundhouse, which is on the grounds of the Tuscumbia Railway Depot Museum at Fifth and Water Street, was completed late in 2012.

While its main use will be as a museum, part of the plans for it include renting the facility to groups for events such as class reunions and wedding receptions.

The $1.07 million roundhouse and turntable project was funded through a transportation enhancement grant.

Bernie Delinski can be reached at 256-740-5739 or bernie.delinski@TimesDaily.com.

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