Paying a membership fee is no longer voluntary for folks who frequent Oak Harbor Senior Center.

But that seems to be OK with those mature folk who frequent the SE Jerome Street Senior Center. Most are already paying members and they say the $15 a year fee is more than fair. In fact, some folks seemed a little disgruntled that not everyone has been ponying up the modest fee.

“Why not?” asked Senior Center volunteer Bill Sticher. “Who can’t afford $15 a year?”

“I think they should have it,” member Bill Miner said. “It costs X number of dollars to run the center and they need all the money they can get.”

The Oak Harbor City Council recently approved the mandatory membership fee of $15 a year for people over 50 who use the center frequently. They also approved a daily use fee of $1 for occasional visitors. Fees for programs will be $15 higher for people who aren’t paying members.

In addition, the new user fee policy sets four levels of voluntary support, which come with varying level of recognition. There’s a $25, a $50, a $100 and a $250 level.

The recommendation for the change in user fees came from the Oak Harbor Senior Center Advisory Board and Senior Center Director Bridget DeMuth. She said the main purpose behind the change is simply to increase the center’s revenue.

But the fee may also spur people to be more active. “We find that people who pay use fees tend to take a greater interest in the upkeep of the center and in programs,” Demuth said.

In the past, all fees have been voluntary at the Senior Center, which is supported by the city, the county, members and donations.

DeMuth said implementation of the new fee policy is planned to take up to six months as members are educated about the change and the administration changes are completed.