Discussion regarding lease agreements took precedence at the Village of Orchard Board of Trustees meeting held Monday, July 11.

Trustees Glen Cheatum and Dwight VanOstrand were not in attendance of the meeting.

Chairman Stephanie Cleveland addressed the status of several items at the community center. The shed has been cleared out and Jeff Shabram paid rent for the weight room through December.

Officials are still waiting on lease and rental agreements, which will include utility costs, from village attorney Joe McNally.

Trustee Curt Mitteis asked if Shabram is using the weight room now and who carries liability coverage.

Liability will all be included in lease agreements, according to Cleveland.

Mitteis questioned if tenants should be using the facility until lease agreements are complete.

Cleveland said Shabram has been using the facility “for the last six months.” A verbal agreement could be made between Shabram and the village regarding liability insurance.

Liability insurance will apply to the weight room, preschool, thrift store and anyone who has a business or extra traffic coming in.

Discussion ensued about rates to charge Jillian Henn’s BobKitten Preschool. Cleveland explained that a board committee had considered charging $400 a month for one room’s rent. Henn would not need to use the kitchen, but she may potentially use the gym for the kids to play in if there was bad weather.

Mitteis asked, “So, how much a kid would that be?”

Cleveland responded, “Well, you don’t know how many kids she is going to get. I don’t think its fair to charge her per kid when she might have a year where she has eight kids and she might have a year where she has 12 kids.”

“Well, she’s been used to paying the Lutheran Church like $900 a month,” Mitteis replied.

“I don’t know if it - Tammy was in there too - I think it was $500,” Cleveland said.

Mitteis read aloud a text, on his phone, he said he sent Cleveland and John Ferguson. “Just for your information, the preschool pays St. Peter’s $916 a month,” Mitteis read.

Cleveland asked if that amount was actual rent or if that covered other items?

“Like if she had to buy, I don’t know, supplies, they paid for it. Then she would have to reimburse them for it,” Cleveland explained.

“Whatever then, she was pretty consistent,” Mitteis responded.

Cleveland said, “I don’t see how that room is worth $900 a month ... I think it is a lot for a business, and for us to look at someone who is trying to put a daycare in that we desperately need in this town - that is my personal opinion,” responded Cleveland.

Ferguson added in on the conversation, “I think $400 for right now to get started - that’s my personal opinion.”

Mitties asked if trustees would be voting on the rates.

“This is when I asked you guys if you wanted to sit in on these meetings,” Cleveland said. “If you guys don’t like them (prices) or need to change them, that’s fine. I know this (cost) is something she can afford because I know I’ve sat down with her one day and asked her, ‘where you are at, what can you do?’ She is looking to hire somebody else, so that is more expense to her - you know to help out and do more and possibly get more kids in.”