T-R FILE PHOTO Fisher Community Center weekday hours are now 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., with no changes to the weekend hours.

The Fisher Community Center, established in 1959, houses several local business offices and offers space for public meetings and private parties. It recently changed its hours of operation.

Previously, it was open to the public from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays, although the building would be closed if nothing was scheduled.

Weekday hours are now 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., with no changes to the weekend hours. Several local clubs hold meetings at the FCC in the evenings. Lynn Olberding, who serves as director of the Marshalltown Area Chamber of Commerce which is housed within the FCC, said these clubs and groups can still gain access if arrangements are made in advance.

“Exceptions can be made if groups need/want to meet outside those hours — however overtime fees may apply,” she said.

Paul Gregoire, who serves as Chairperson of the FCC Board of Trustees, said the decision to restrict building hours was on the basis of finances.

“A lot of the times we had it open, nobody was around, so at that point of time, economically, it didn’t make sense to have the facility open when not a lot of traffic is there, so the board changed the hours,” he said. “(The FCC) is a low-budget operation. We don’t have a lot of dollars to pay people to be around there, because we can’t leave it open and not have someone there, and it costs money to heat it.”

The FCC Board of Trustees is appointed by the mayor.

For information on how to reserve meeting space at the FCC, call 641-753-6645.

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Contact Sara Jordan-Heintz at

641-753-6611 or

sjordan@timesrepublican.com