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Last updated on Monday, February 18, 2013
(LINTON) - The Linton City Council voted unanimously against the renewal of a lease with the Greene County Saddle Club allowing use of city property by the club for the fee of $1 per year.
Anna Rochelle of the Greene County Daily World reports that during the council's meeting last week, council members expressed disappointment that the Saddle Club had not fulfilled the promises they made last year.
Besides the lease with the Saddle Club, another similar lease with the Greene County Soccer Association was on the council's agenda and that lease was renewed for the fee of $1 per year.
Mayor John Wilkes said there had been no problems connected with the soccer association's use of city property.
The council also renewed a contract with Stockton Township to provide the township's fire protection for a fee of $80,000 per year.
The Saddle Club did not get an easy pass and their lease prompted discussion.
Wilkes said when the lease was renewed last year, the Saddle Club was asked that certain things be done including work on riding trails and work on an area for an arena.
The club was going to become more involved with the community and they were going to provide carriage rides during the city's Freedom Festival.
Wilkes said he did not think these things had been done.
A representative of the club said they had volunteered for a Chamber of Commerce event, sponsored an Easter egg hunt and hosted a hog roast with the public invited.
Councilmember Linda Bedwell countered that the club had been given the email addresses of three city officials including the mayor, Bedwell and Councilman Fred Markle, but the three had not received any invitations or notices of any of the club's events or activities.
Wilkes said he had been invited to one event.
Bedwell said of all the things the club promised to do, they had not done them, and she made a motion to not renew the club's lease. The motion was seconded by Councilman Tony Richards and the motion passed.
Owners of any campers currently on the property will have a grace period until April 1 before they will be charged for campground fees. Campers on the property will then fall under the same rules as the Sunset campground and will pay the same fees in effect at Sunset. Club members who want to ride trails on the property will still be able to use the property without a cost.
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