Tent revival festivities near Highway 34 in Creston — which started in May — will continue through mid summer after Creston City Council voted Tuesday evening to extend their noise permit.
The tent revivals are hosted by God’s Outreach Deliverance church in Creston and were held during the month of May. The church’s pastor JoAnna Davis told the council Tuesday the revivals include prayer and worship, guest speakers and live music.
Davis said these revivals have been a true blessing to the Creston community.
“People are getting healed,” Davis said. “We’ve helped a tremendous amount people in this community during the revivals by loving on them. We’ve had people give up drugs and alcohol. So we are asking that you give us permission to continue the revivals.”
Davis asked permission to have the revivals on Friday and Saturday evenings in June, July, August and September.
After much discussion, the council voted 5-2 in favor of extending the noise permit and allow the revivals from 6 to 9 p.m. Fridays and 4 to 8 p.m. Saturdays through the end of July.
“But, the music must be cut off at 9 p.m.,” said Marsha Wilson, ward 4 city councilwoman.
Wilson, Loyal Winborn, Nancy Loudon, Randy White and Gary Lybarger voted in favor of extending the noise permit for the revival.
Meanwhile, Ann Levine — ward 3 city councilwoman, voted against the extention stating she received phone calls from neighboring residents complaining about the music noise.
“I have concerns for the residents to the south (of the tent),” Levine said. “I have heard from several of them who have young children they are trying to put to bed between 6 and 9. That’s not working. The elderly are also very agitated. I don’t know if there is another place you can put your tent, but I think it’s a little close to residents.”
Dave Koets, ward 5 city councilman, who also voted against the extention, said he understands their concerns and these additional dates on Fridays and Saturdays are asking a lot of the residents near the tent.
The council will likely meet with Davis again in July and discuss whether to extend the noise ordinance for the tent revivals through September as requested by Davis.
In other city council news:
• Condo project update: The council voted 7-0 to allow Mike Taylor, city administrator, to develop a proposal for the Cottonwood Subdivision condominium project. This proposal is to have minimal or no impact on Creston’s property taxes and provide the best financial stability to the project.
That proposal will likely be completed in the next month so the council can review it and vote for or against moving forward with the condo project with private developer Don Sonntag of Atlantic.
• Paint program: Ellen Gerharz, executive director for Creston Chamber of Commerce, reported the Paint Creston program had 13 applicants this year and six were selected. In this program, the six homeowners selected will receive free paint to paint the outside of their home. This is the fifth year the committee has offered the program.
“This program is our little contribution to the beauty of the community,” Gerharz said. “After these six are painted, that will bring our total of 25 homes painted under this program. Those homes are little beacons of pride in some of the neighborhoods. We are thankful for all the support we receive in this program including the anonymous donors.”