Event policies on table

At the Creston City Council meeting on April 18, the council discussed starting a special events application and policy, drawing off the events application in Keokuk.

Mayor Gabe Carroll explained the council’s reason for solidifying an events policy.

“We’ve had a few more events going on in Creston the last few years, we’ve had a lot of active people in the community,” Carroll said. “Part of that process, it is sometimes difficult for the city clerk to take the things that have been scribbled on a napkin and put them into a coherent form for what the event wants to do. Mike [Taylor] and Lisa [Williams] came up with a couple different applications from different communities for us to review and the one from Keokuk was the one to start off our template with.”

Two areas on the policy that brought discussion were regarding street barricades and insurance.

Councilmember Steve Wintermute explained his feelings around the street barricades.

“A lot of these groups don’t make any money or make just a little. I don’t know about the rental fee on the barricades,” Wintermute said. “Maybe we could change it to a once or twice a year no charge and if they do it multiple times then you could charge.”

The proposed policy lists street barricades at a $25 fee. The council wasn’t sure if this fee referred to each barricade or for the entire barricade package. After discussion, they decided to limit it to $25 for the package and only charge people after multiple events.

When a concern was brought up regarding pricing and who to charge, Carroll said that barricades were not meant to be “money makers.” Adding fees was simply to recoup the street department for their labor.

When it came to insurance, the council was concerned about what was required for smaller groups.

“I can see insurance on [Ballon Days, Fourth of July],” Councilmember Kiki Scarberry said. “The thing I’m worried about, are we required, like if the Cub Scouts gather at McKinley Park… Right now they don’t have additional insurance, right?”

The council decided they needed clarification on insurance as they continue to discuss the policy in upcoming weeks.

“We can talk to EMC and see what they require for insurance,” Carroll said. “A lot of the insurance is pretty nominal as far as costs go, as long as you’re not having big bouncy slides or that type of thing.”

Other conversations were brought up surrounding sanitation, security and timing and due dates for the forms.

Councilmember Rich Madison reminded everyone that nothing was permanent regarding the policy.

“It’s not an ordinance, it’s just a policy,” Madison said. “It can be changed whenever we need to.”

The next Creston City Council meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 2.