Journal Staff
Sarnia will longer offer extra services to citizens renting municipal facilities for weddings and other events, council has decided.
Over the years, parks staff have taken on additional roles and responsibilities to support private functions at places like the Kiwanis Wedding pavilion in Canatara Park, which hosts 12 to 20 events each summer.
That includes municipal staff setting up city-owned tables, chairs and decorations. Staff overtime costs about $20,000 a season and the fees charged don’t cover the expense.
The move will streamline services and encourage citizens to support local businesses.
From now on, permit-holders will be responsible for renting their own tables and chairs and completing their own decoration set-up and teardown.
The wedding fee is being eliminated but residents will still pay an event fee and damage deposit.