Officials approve application with revisions
By Barb Pert Templeton
A unanimous vote of the Marine City Commission approved the application for renting the bandstand at 300 Broadway Street, pending some revisions. Once those are made residents will be able to rent the beautiful facility located in Heritage Square.
Built in 1908, the former bandstand was in disrepair and torn down by the city in 2021. A new version was erected in 2022 and a formal dedication took place in May 2023.
Marine City Manager Scott Adkins led the discussion stating that Commissioner Brian Ross was instrumental in meeting with the committee regarding the application that will be put in place.
“We’d just like to have feedback from the commission in regards to a direction to go in and we are getting inquiries for the bandstand which is very encouraging,” Adkins said.
Ross said he spoke with the city’s fire authority regarding occupancy of the bandstand and the number of people that feels comfortable is a maximum of 30. Adkins said they could list that information “discretely” inside the bandstand and note that perhaps the total included 20 seated or 30 standing.
Mayor Pro Tem Lisa Hendrick asked Ross if there was a cleaning fee or security deposit amount the renter would get back as long as the facility was left as they found it. Ross said there wasn’t a security deposit on the application but it could be added.
On page two of the application, it states the city may seek reimbursement for any damage but officials felt a security deposit would likely work out best. An amendment that notes a security deposit of $100 for residents and $150 for non-residents is required will be added to the application.
Ross said he also wanted to ask everyone about the actual bandstand rental costs. It’s $100 for residents and $150 for nonresidents yet it’s the same cost to rent the city pavilion that holds 100 people and the bandstand only holds 30 people.
“I’m not trying to down play it any way, shape or form and I love the idea of the money for the city but do you think people would value it the same amount as a rental that’s a larger facility,” Ross said. “It is super great for pictures; it is nice but I just wanted see how the commission feels about it.”
Hendrick said they should just try it out and see how it goes and if rentals aren’t happening, they can always amend the cost section of the application.
Officials will also clarify language for residents who are eligible to rent the bandstand. They discussed a resident being someone that owns property and pays taxes in the city and they must show proof of that via personal identification with a valid driver’s license, state identification or voter identification card.
Commissioner William Klaassen asked what the city can do if a group the city doesn’t approve of wants to rent the facility? He said he knows of a community that rented space and then a group from the Michigan Militia held a meeting there.
“They did not like it after that but I don’t know what you can do about anything like that,” Klaassen said.
“We can hope they don’t like that extra $50 bucks they’d have to pay as nonresidents,” Ross replied. “But that could happen anywhere, they could rent the pavilion.”
Officials then discussed putting separate bullet points on the application related to Port-A-Johns at the site, including that having them would be the renter’s responsibility.
Officials expect the application to be up on the city website soon and then renting out the bandstand will begin.
