7 November 2012
Mr Brian E. Smith
Senior Services Supervisor
Provo Parks and Recreation
270 West 500 North
Provo, Utah 84601
Subject: Veterans Service Organizations Be Considered Grandfathered Exempt Fees
Reference: Letter dated October 30, 2012
Mr. Smith:
In response to your letter dated 30 October 2012 we-- The American Legion, a wartime Veteran’s Service Organization, having had a positive and supportive relationship with the City of Provo for 93 years, are responding to your decision to subject Veterans Service Organizations being assessed a rental fee for all such groups wishing to meet in the new facility. We are also addressing the issues of no storage space for our Organizations under this new ruling.
I am asking the Mayor and The City Council be addressed concerning the Veterans City Sealed Agreement between Provo City and the Veterans Organizations Agreement dated 30 November 1998.
1. Whereas: The American Legion has stayed true to the agreement faithfully serving on the Mayors Veterans Council and supporting the coordinated Veterans Patriotic functions within Provo City and the Mayors Office.
2. Whereas: The Veteran’s non-fee use of the Elder Senior Center is agreed that its use be granted in full exchange for Veteran’s rights in the building previously located at 287 East 100 North, Provo, Utah.
3. Whereas: The Agreement includes the Veterans Service Organization’s Women’s Auxiliaries appurtenant thereto for the same space.
4. Whereas: The Veteran’s will, at no cost to their Organization, use room 6, or such other rooms as the parties mutually hereafter agree, in the Eldred Senior Center as meeting rooms for all affiliates of the Veterans and/or Women’s Auxiliaries and that they shall therein be allowed to display appropriate emblems / memorabilia on the walls, place trophy cases, etc. and carry on their normal and usual activities.
5. Whereas: The City will provide adequate storage space for Veteran’s flags and other administrative supplies.
6. Whereas: Use of the kitchen will be made available to Veterans Service Organizations and/or their Auxiliaries on an “as schedule basis.”
7. Whereas: The City recognizes the majority of the members of the Veteran’s groups are Senior Citizens and that it is appropriate that the use of the Eldred Senior Center for activities for the Veterans groups will be at no cost to the Veteran’s groups, but such activities will not be entitled to priority scheduling.
8. Whereas: The Veteran’s Service Organizations executed this agreement in good faith between the Veterans Council and the City of Provo and filed same with the City Recorder and Sealed 30 November 1998.
9. Now therefore: Be it finally resolved that the city shall honor the agreement cited in paragraph 8 above, now and into perpetuity, and shall charge Veterans Service Organizations and/or their Auxiliaries no fees for the permanent use of the Eldred Senior Center, and shall further provide a dedicated room for administrative supplies and other memorabilia.
Having the responsibility of the Commander of The American Legion, Dean Mendenhall, Provo Post 13. And on behalf of the American Legion Department of Utah, a Congressionally Chartered Organization since 1919, We The American Legion do plead your reconsideration of your request towards our--- and the other Signed Veteran’s Service Organizations to implement such requirements and abide to said Contract with the City.
We appreciate being involved and honored to provide The Mayors Veterans Council and support the coordinated Veterans Patriotic functions that involve our City and the Mayor’s Office. I remain for God and Country.
Sincerely,
For God and Country
Randy D. Edwards, Commander
The American Legion
Dean Mendenhall, Provo Post 13
801-224-7477
