Aledo makes ‘bold’ move to slash rental rates for city’s community center

The city of Aledo has slashed the cost to rent its public community center because residents were complaining the price was too high.

Under the previous fee structure, a wedding party that wanted to rent the space for eight hours on a Saturday would pay $1,850. Under the new rate, the cost is $700 for 10 hours.

The Aledo City Council voted unanimously April 2 to change the rental prices at the center, which is at 104 Robinson Court. The building can host up to 172 guests.

“People call in, and they hear the price, and they’re like ‘Okay, no thank you,” Erika Cooper, director of community services, told the council.

In addition, the council lowered a cleaning fee and added a television for no cost.

The community center also required a four-hour minimum, Cooper said. A resident who rented the center on a Saturday for a celebration, for example, would pay $300 for a four-hour minimum and an added $200 hourly rate for additional hours. Revenue for the center dropped from a little under $27,800 in fiscal year 2023-24 to about $7,300 in next year. Cooper attributed the drop to the price hike.

The rental rate dropped for a five-hour minimum decreased from $60 to $40 on weekdays, and decreased from $100 to $60 per hour on weekends. The cleaning fee dropped from $150 to $100 for all occasions. The refundable deposit remained at $250.

While council member Summer Jones voted in favor of lowering the rates, she noted that city staff previously said they endured a heavy workload to maintain the center.

After the vote, Mayor Shane Davis posted it on Facebook.

“Last night, your city council made a move — and not a small one. A bold one. The kind of move that says we’re listening, we’re adapting, and we’re making things happen,” Davis wrote.

One comment on his post said: “Thank you!!!! The community center is such a great place and I hope this encourages our community to use it more.”