How do I get along with small town government?
I live in a small town and we have a gym that is used primarily for tent revivals, benefit singings and a group of guys who play basketball once a week. However, everytime I ask to use it, there is some reason that I cannot. I asked to have a kid’s birthday there, no, I asked to teach karate there, no. The last time I asked, they said they were renovating it and no one could use it, then about 2 weeks later, they set up for the tent revival. No it is not in the gym, but it is open for use to the bathroom and I went and looked and believe me, there is no renovations going on in the gym. – Is this discrimination or just unfair? What can I do about this? What could I say at a council meeting? THANKS
Government property should not be used for personal use, why don’t you rent something…
Small town politics are weird. They usually have reasons for doing what they do, using the type of situation you describe, but the reason may not be apparent to you, or even relevant any longer. Small towns are hard to “crack” for an outsider. This prevents the breakdown of the town’s culture and history. There are good points and bad points about this.
I think you need to find a “local” who is willing to go over the reasons why the town counsel may feel obligated to “protect” the exposure of their town hall for other than the “regular” uses. They fear setting a precedent, which would eventually interfere with the set uses for the hall. It sounds like the hall is no more than an extension of the local Baptist Church. Am I close? You won’t win that argument, and still be welcome as a citizen of the town. I’d find another place to hold your birthday parties, and to teach karate.
Good luck
You could ask them to see the policy that governs the use of the building. If they don’t have one, they should. If the building is going to be rented out, which only benefits the city as they get the profits, then there should be existing guidelines as to who can use it for what purposes.
It’s government property that you as a city resident pay for with YOUR taxes so yes, they should have to answer to you as to how you should go about renting it.
If they won’t, I am not sure where you live, but you can certainly make a formal complaint. Is there a city manager? Ask them these questions and if they don’t give you satisfactory answers, ask then who you should make a complaint to about the city’s procedures.
If this gym is open for rental to other people of the community then they must make it available for rental to all, especially if it is considered public property (owned by the community). I would definitely be at the next board meeting and ask them why the gym is only open to certain individuals? Find out if tax money is spent on the upkeep/utilities, etc., of this piece of property. If it is and they allow others to use it, then they must allow you to use it also. Be prepared for them to act like they personally own this piece of property.
Did you tick someone off?
I live in a village and the gym was used for all sorts of events including wedding showers, baby showers, birthday parties, retirement parties as well as pick up sports and indoor walking during winter. We now have a new community hall which is wonderful but the gym is still used for things like cubs and scouts, brownies, dance classes etc.
Where I live if your group wants to use the facility they must request use and I’ve never heard of anyone being denied.
I find it really odd that they would not let you teach karate. In our town we are desperate for activities for our young people as there is not alot to do and they end up in trouble.
You might try a petition. I’d also be asking the guys that play basketball how they got permission.
It definitely smells fishy to me. Good Luck.
Crooked politics usually are in small towns.
What you say at a council meeting is exactly what you wrote in your question. You need to gather facts before you make your presentation. You need to know who owns the gym. If it is owned by the town government, you should have as much right to use it as any other citizen of the town. If it is owned by an organization, it may be a different story. It is quite possible it is private property (of an organization)— that is leased for a specific group of public uses—-which includes the basketball practice. If an organization owns the building you will need to talk to them about using it. You can also go to the town council and say that your birthday party and karate instruction should also be consider public use ” use for the benefit of the public. If the government owns the building they are being inconsistent to say the least by permitting revival meetings and not your karate class.
Does your town have an annual town meeting??? You might want to present an article for uses of the town gym to be considered by the town meeting.
GO TO THE TOWN COUNCIL AND MAKE YOUR PRESENTATION!!!!!
Sew for equal access.