Rule and Rate Information
for rental of the
Annett Nature Center

Introduction

The Warren County Conservation Board has built the Annett Nature Center to serve as an outdoor recreation and environmental education hub for the citizens of Warren County, Iowa and its friends and neighbors. This is the primary purpose of the ANC. As the ANC is not used every day or evening, the Warren County Conservation Board is pleased to make the ANC available for private use when it is not fulfilling its recreational and educational mandates.

Available facilities

The Annett Nature Center is located at 1555 118th Avenue, Indianola, Iowa 50125, telephone number (515) 961–6169. The ANC has a full kitchen with serving window into a 25' x 41' open room, a 16' x 16' lobby, coat room and restroom facilities indoors, a 48' x 40' deck off of the open room, and spacious grounds surrounding the building. Parking for at least 43 vehicles is available and the facility is fully accessible to the handicapped. Display areas may be available for rental under certain conditions. Please ask for details. Room capacities for fire code purposes is: 146 for main room and 37 for the lobby.

The WCCB also has two small and one very large grill available for rent. Ask for details.

Conditions of use

The Annett Nature Center may be rented by groups or individuals. Rental privileges can be revoked due to past abuses of those privileges.

Reservations will be made up to one calendar year in advance.

Smoking is prohibited inside and on any portion of the grounds of the Annett Nature Center.

Under no circumstances will any staples, pins, nails or other fasteners be placed on the walls, woodwork or deck of the Annett Nature Center. All such penetrations will be charged to the renter as damage to the facility. No candles or other open flames are allowed.

Under no circumstances will any motor vehicle be operated off of the established roadways.

Rates

For private/business use or use by conservation/service organizations for social engagements: Fee: $150.00.

Payment and deposit (see Damage Deposit below) are due within one week of booking the reservation. A reservation agreement will be signed and the rental policy will be reviewed and provided to the renter at this time. Any reservation not confirmed by payment within one week will be removed from the reservation book.

Cancellation of a reservation requires a one week notice prior to the date of the reservation. If notice is not received, damage deposits will be refunded, but rental fees will be forfeited. Weather related cancellations will be allowed at the discretion of staff.

Friends of Warren County Conservation with a membership level of at least $25/year are entitled to one (1) rental per year at a 50% reduction from the normal rate.

For use for meetings by conservation/service organizations: Reservations as schedule allows at no fee. Donation are welcome. A damage deposit may be required.

Damage Deposit

A minimum damage deposit of $150.00 will be left with the Warren County Conservation Board as security against any damage caused during rental. Higher deposits may be required at the discretion of the conservation board. The amount of the deposit in no way limits the monetary amount that the renter may be responsible for. This will be determined by the actual cost of clean up as noted in clean up below, and/or repair of damage in materials and time (time will be charged in one hour increments at $25/hour). Damage to any equipment or supplies of the Warren County Conservation Board will be included in any damages assessed to the renter. Deposit checks are shredded after satisfactory cleanup is completed. For return of deposit checks, renter must supply stamped, self-addressed envelope.

Use of alcohol is allowed at rentals of the Annett Nature Center under the following conditions:

•	The renter MUST declare prior to the rental if alcohol will be present at the rental. Failure to notify the Warren County Conservation Board of the presence of alcohol prior to the rental will result in the forfeiture of the damage deposit.
•	The minimum deposit will be $300.00.
•	All laws of the State of Iowa regarding consumption of alcohol will be strictly observed. Violation of state code with regard to alcohol consumption will result in expulsion from the building, revocation of rental privileges and forfeiture of deposit.
•	Beer and light wine (wine coolers) are the only alcoholic beverages allowed.

Clean up

Clean up must be performed immediately after the rental and the facility must be returned to the condition it was accepted in. The renter is responsible for clean up. Renter is responsible for the cost of removal of carpet stains, scratches in woodwork, marks on walls, etc. left during their rental. A staff member will be available for a walk through of the building prior to the rental to establish if any such stains, marks, etc. already exist.

Under no circumstances will any staples, pins, nails or other fasteners be placed on the walls or woodwork of the Annett Nature Center. All such penetrations will be charged to the renter as damage to the facility. The WCCB will supply materials to be used for hanging items from walls or ceilings. Renters will remove their own garbage from the premises.

Equipment and materials for clean up will be provided. The Warren County Conservation Board will not provide staff for clean up. The only staff time provided after a rental will be to inspect the facility for damage or clean up needs. The renter is welcome to attend this inspection, usually to occur the following morning. If clean up time by staff is required, it will be charged against, but not limited by, the damage deposit at a rate of $25 per hour with a minimum charge of one hour and all charges levied in whole hour increments.

Parking

The renter is responsible for ensuring that their guests park in designated areas only, keeping vehicles out of the circle drive in front of the building and off of the grass. The WCCB has invested a significant amount of resources in an effort to reestablish prairie plants on the ANC grounds and vehicles parked in the grass may kill those plants.

Key Pick-up

The renter is responsible for making arrangements to pick up and return keys. Staff will not be at the door to let you in on the day of your reservation. Schedules sometimes require that all staff be out of the ANC. Do not wait until the last minute to pick up your key. Keys may left on the counter in the lobby after lock up (by holding the front door open when locking you may remain in the building while locking the doors). Confirm that all doors are locked before leaving.

Review

The renters’ responsibilities, as outlined on the prior pages include, but are not limited to, the following:

•	Renter is responsible for making arrangements to pick up a key: Staff will not be at the door to let you in on the day of your reservation. Schedules sometimes require that all staff be out of the ANC — do not wait until the last minute to pick up your key.
•	Smoking is prohibited inside and on any portion of the grounds of the Annett Nature Center.
•	Checking facilities to make sure they are adequate for your needs.
•	Declaring whether or not alcohol will be present.
•	Making deposit and rental payments in a timely manner.
•	Return one copy of the rental agreement with you payment.
•	Picking up a key prior to the rental — make arrangements for key pickup well in advance because of irregularities in staff schedules.
•	Make sure that guests follow parking rules: no parking in turn around area in front of building, no parking in grass.
•	If you anticipate your parking needs to overflow the ANC parking lot, make arrangements with staff for alternate parking areas prior to your event.
•	No nails, staples or pins may be used on any part of the ANC, in or outside. If you wish to attach decorations to any part of the building, check with staff prior to your rental.
•	Renter is responsible for clean up of the facility and removal of their own trash: Vacuum cleaners, brooms, garbage bags, paper towels, toilet paper, etc. are available in the storage rooms; a key to the toilet paper and paper towel holders can be found on the cleaning cart.
•	Take down all decorations, in and outside.
•	Make sure all exterior doors are locked prior to leaving the building.
•	Make arrangements for return of keys prior to event or leave keys on front counter after locking the front doors.