Trending
KINGSFORD -- Despite what appeared to be strong attendance, Kingsford's centennial celebration in early August ultimately cost more than it took in, organizers said.
The Kingsford City Council agreed Monday to pay $41,476 still owed to several vendors for the event. This was a compromise, proposed by Councilman Daniel Freeman, after earlier votes to loan more money to the centennial committee had failed.
Mayor Joseph Groeneveld praised council members for resolving the bills. "You listened to each other and came up with a solution," he said.
The city learned several weeks ago more money would be needed to pay off debts for the event Aug. 3-6 at Lodal Park.
City officials and committee members had expected the event to make a profit but it fell short due to a number of factors, such as higher costs and lower ticket sales.
Final estimated costs for the centennial totaled $876,779.
Vendors owed money include: Binks Cola-Cola, $6,797.88; Krist Oil, $1,780.93; WLUC, $210; UPS, $28.71; Radio Results Network, $5,000; Kiwanis, $2,287.50; Guild Star, $2,800; Etix, $4,869.83; and John Jessen, $17,701.43, for various items purchased and payment made for former Heart singer Ann Wilson.
The city also lent the centennial committee $75,000 for the event.
Several council members stressed the centennial committee did nothing wrong.
Councilman Michael Flaminio said the city decided to make the centennial bigger and better than the 75th anniversary.
"It was a big success," Flaminio said in praising committee members and volunteers. "Most didn't get to see a lot of the shows. They were working the entire weekend. I think we should help. They need the money right now."
He supported paying the debts and forgiving the $75,000 loan. "We shouldn't have told him (Jessen) to do the job without $100,000," he said.
A suggestion had been made to have the city purchase the unsold centennial books for $35,000, which otherwise would have been used to pay the some of the vendors.
Committee member Tonya Hiltonen called it a difficult situation as a committee member, city employee and taxpayer. The idea to sell the leftover centennial books back to the city came because "when you don't have money you sell your assets."
She was also concerned the committee would be financially responsible and didn't want to declare bankruptcy because they couldn't pay the invoices.
One person pointed out it was a city -- not a centennial committee -- event that brought revenue to the city.
Groeneveld agreed. "Two and a half years ago we decided to have it, a citywide celebration, and we had a committee to do all the work so we didn't have to. We voted for it. We can go on and look like fools. This is our city and we take pride and pay our bills. It's not their fault. It's a once-a-century event. We asked people to do it so we didn't have to."
Freeman was unable to attend two special meetings that failed to approve funding for the event. He was unhappy they became heated and one was not recorded.
He said he volunteered on a lot of committees that tried to be financially responsible and realistic. He hoped that the city would learn from this.
Council member Cynthia Dixon-Miller said she was thinking about taxpayers who couldn't afford to attend the centennial.
Councilman Dennis Baldinelli, who also served on the committee, said they will continue to try to raise money, such as some raffle drawings, to pay back the city. Merchandise and centennial books are also still available for purchase.
Several people also pointed out that without the centennial, the city would probably not have received a $100,000 donation from Marty and Rick Lagina for Ford Addition Park improvements. The former Kingsford residents, stars of "The Curse of Oak Island," were parade marshals during the event. The money the city had planned to spend to upgrade the park can now be used at other parks.