Friends of the Belle requested a waiver of rental charges for its annual "Christmas at the Belle" event, but city commissioners remained steadfast in their refusal.

For more than a half-hour, city commissioners listened to Joe Satrom and Susan Lundberg extol the virtues of the Belle Mehus Auditorium and the Friends of the Belle organization in their request to have charges waived for the "Christmas at the Belle" festivities Nov. 12.

Commissioners agreed the Friends of the Belle have been and are instrumental in keeping the historic auditorium a showplace for the community. But the commission also recognized that should it make an exception for the nonprofit, all-volunteer organization, similar consideration will have to be given all other groups of similar standing.

Mayor John Warford, who for the past five years has dedicated and turned on the lights on the city Christmas tree at the "Christmas at the Belle" event, pointed out that the commission has been consistent in its refusal to waive the charges.

If the commission would waive the fees for Friends of the Belle and turn down the requests of any other group, the city would be open to charges of discrimination, Warford said. He also said that there was no doubt the auditorium wouldn't be the facility it is today without the passion of the group.

Lundberg said that if any organization deserves some special consideration when using the auditorium, it is the Friends of the Belle because all of the efforts of the organization go to improving the facility.

"We want to spend all our money on the Belle. This is not the same (situation as other groups making similar requests)," Lundberg said. "We are the perfect organization. We're the insiders. We've been there from day one and have brought about the renovation."

Last year, Friends of the Belle paid $265 in rental fees, but facilities manager Ron Staiger said there have been adjustments in fees, which are $300 a day or $50 an hour, whichever is lower. Lundberg said the group would need three to four hours to decorate, two hours for the program and two to three hours for cleanup and takedown.

The "Christmas at the Belle" festivities feature comments by the mayor and other guest speakers and holiday music by children's groups.

Commissioner Steve Schwab suggested that the friends group be allowed to negotiate with the city to pay no more than it did last year. Commissioner Dave Jensen said he would "love to give" the group the building.

Commissioner Connie Sprynczynatyk did not agree with Jensen's offer, noting that taxpayers provided $2.4 million to renovate the Belle Mehus Auditorium in 1994.

"As much as Friends has done for the grand old lady, what you do for one you have to do for all," Sprynczynatyk said. "You ask that you not be treated fairly, but we can't do that as far as rental. We've all had lots of contacts, lots of groups that want to use the facilities, including the Civic Center, for little or nothing. I can't support this. We can't do this." Whether it be a big name entertainer or a small local group, the same charges for rental of the auditorium are made, said Lundberg. She would like to see local groups have a different level of charges.

Sprynczynatyk did suggest the city establish a modest fund, which could be used to help support the arts. She went as far to volunteer to set up a group to research the issue. Jensen argued that such contributions by the city were illegal, but city attorney Charlie Whitman said the state's Century Code has provisions allowing funding of the arts.

Sprynczynatyk made the motion to deny the request, adding that the city look at funding for the arts. The motion was approved unanimously. A second motion by Schwab to allow Friends of the Belle to negotiate a charge no greater than last year was withdrawn.