Councilwoman Greene questions cost of Lakeside Park music program
Rogers City mayor Beach Hall was authorized to sign a mini-grant application to assist in the funding of the Lakeside Park Summer Program and members of the Rogers City Council approved the hiring of Anne Belanger as project director. Before voting on the motions, several minutes of discussion took place, most of which was led by councilwoman Deb Greene. She wondered if the two-month music program, which has brought such groups as the Petoskey Steel Band to town, was starting to cost too much money. Greene wanted the record to be clear that she supports the program and has been at the park for all of the shows, but is not so sure if it?s in the city?s best interest to continue funding the entertainment, as budget decisions get tougher.
Anne and Marlowe Belanger again offered to work with city staff in submitting a grant application for a mini grant from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs to fund what is known as Entertainment in the Park. The application request is for $4,000 and will require a cash match of about $3,800 from the fiscal year 2006-07 budget. The proposal to hire Belanger at a cost of $2,300 also was presented. Belanger has worked to develop the program the last several years.
GREENE SAID when she was on council before, the cost was low. Now she believes it is turning into a ?big project.? ?When it first started it was $300 for fees,? Greene said, addressing Belanger in the audience. ?That was back in 2002. You did it on your own. You volunteered to do it, and then we paid you for your expenses and the rest was volunteer.? At that point, it cost the city $1,000 for the musical groups, said Greene. ?It?s costing us $4,000, and we are getting $2,000 from the grant,? said Greene. ?I think it is great, but that?s just a lot of money.? She also said the weather has to be good for the people to turn out. The councilwoman said she was at Lakeside Park one night when there were five people present. City manager John Bruning said expenses have increased. Greene said, ?Maybe next year we should look at getting revenues from other places. I realize the Harbor has no money. That is why I think we really have to be tight on our money and quit spending it so frivolously. I know it brings people into town. It is a really good program, but it is a lot of money.?
HALL OBJECTED to Greene?s comment on frivolous spending. ?I think it is an excellent program,? Hall responded. ?I know in the last year or so, Anne has gone out and solicited funds.? Greene countered, ?I?m not just saying this is frivolous. I mean our spending as a whole. We can?t be frivolous. We have to really watch our spending.? The exchange between the two council members continued. Hall said, ?I don?t think we are frivolous in any of our expenditures.? ?Well, I think we can be tighter with some of them.? Hall said one of
Greene said, ?I know. I?m not saying it isn?t wonderful. I know it brings people into town, provided the weather is nice. But $10,000 is a lot of money.? Councilman Gary Nowak said other groups need to contribute, including the Community Development Authority and the Rogers City Chamber of Commerce. The chamber is ?the ones that should be putting this on,? Nowak said.
LOCAL SPONSORS have contributed to the entertainment, but Belanger said she has gone to the townships to seek additional contributions. ?We do pull a lot from outside of the city, and as we all know, we pull people in from all over the state,? Belanger said. ?I think the townships should be a part of this. Local sponsors are really recognizing the impact that it has on the economy.? Greene added, ?I don?t want to give you the impression I?m against this. I?m not against it. I attend every one of them. I love them. I just think we as a council have to start thinking outside of the box and stop thinking that we have to pay for every single thing that comes along, because we are not making it.? The issue appears to be one topic that will be discussed at a February budget workshop.