SRC Wants CDC Involved in Parade

(posted Nov 7)

The Speedway Promoters Club is finding out that hosting a future parade appears to be falling into a political arena.

The Speedway Redevelopment Commission's attempted Nov 6 resolution appeared to place the parade under "some type of parade committee" that could fall under the umbrella of the Community Development Corporation.

The Speedway Promoters Club/Speedway Parade Committee objected to the resolution, fearing it was an attempt to take the parade into the hands of government and away from the grassroots of local residents and business owners that organized this year's event.

The resolution died on the table for a lack of a second to SRC member Vince Noblet's motion.

Commission President Scott Harris said "the town council" and "several members of (the Community Development Corporation)" asked the SRC to make a recommendation to support and encourage the parade. Later Harris said the SRC should pass a resolution or recommendation to "support the efforts of the CDC and the town council to establish some type of on-going parade committee or whatever."

However, Town Councilor Gary Raikes indicated later that evening the council did not direct the SRC to make a recommendation about the parade.

Susan Luebbert of the Promoters Club asked why the SRC never contacted them about this issue since the group organized the first parade.

The Promoters Club members only became aware of a potential issue by seeing the SRC special session agenda item titled "Main Street activities". Luebbert requested a meeting with the council and SRC to work out the issue, but no answer was given during the meeting.

Promoters Club Facilitator Amy Carroll addressed the town council on October 22 requesting event fees be waived for 2008. The town council has not given an answer.

The CDC served as the fiscal agent for the 2007 parade, but it did not oversee the parade in any organizational matters. As a fiscal agent, the CDC provided a method for sponsors to received a tax-exemption for money donated to the parade since the Promoters Club is not yet a 501 c 3 organization.

The commission vowed to raise the issue at the expected Nov 16 special session after commissioner Ron Fisher has had more time to review the circumstances and the people involved on the committee.

Fisher thought it was poor taste to circulate a petition at the September 22 parade to gather signatures against vacating Grande Avenue and Georgetown Road when Allison Transmission was a sponsor. Allison Transmission would like to vacate Grande Avenue for plant efficiencies and the SRC is supportive of that road closure.

Luebbert said she was acting on her own behalf and not representing the promoters club and was not wearing a parade organizers shirt.

"It smells the same," Fisher said. He accused the group of being political.

Luebbert responded that Fisher intervened by disrupting a woman from hearing about the petition.

Fisher said the lady had not be living in town for awhile and wanted to make sure she aware the issues.

Harris said the petitions need to be out of the equation on parade day.

Joyce Bishop said if the CDC becomes the umbrella over the parade it will become political. The CDC members are appointed by the town council and SRC. The fifth member is the town manager, that position is currently vacant.

"Why do you need the CDC?" Fisher asked

"You are the ones saying we need a CDC", Bishop said, adding the CDC acts as a a fiscal agent and nothing more until the club becomes a 501 c3.

Noblet called for the motion saying the parade is a community event that should not be represented by just one group. Fisher wanted to go to a CDC meeting first before passing such a resolution. Fisher was confused by the Speedway Merchants Association and the Promoters Club and their functions with the parade.

Luebbert and Bishop are affiliated with both groups. The SMA supported the parade even though the group had no money to sponsor because the merchants believed a parade was vital to promoting Main Street businesses. Harris attends SMA meetings and has billed the town $55 an hour in his executive director position to attend.

The SRC sees making a resolution as to who is involved in the parade as one of its functions to support Main Street activities since the SRC is charged with redeveloping the area. Harris wanted a broader group of more than five or six people involved. Harris wants representatives from all groups to participate. The commissioners did not make any statements of whether or not the Promoters Club would be group to organize the parade.

"We're not giving it to someone else. We're telling them that they can put some other people in charge," Noblet said.

"We've been asked this question to comment on the parade and to lend our support. The parade is good thing and successful and encourage. We are not telling how to do it. We want to lend our support and CDC in fiscal intermediary and we recommend that Speedway parade be represented by recognized group involve Lions, Kiwanis, schools, neighborhood associations, and The Exchange Club," Harris said.

Bishop said "they are welcome to attend our meetings."

Harris also indicated that he did not recognize the Promoters Club as an organizing body since it was not 501 c 3.

Luebbert sees the actions as dividing up the Promoters Club.

The SRC also discussed other Main Street activities. The SRC also indicated they would probably step back and endorse Rock'in On Main Street again next year, but make it more of a family entertainment venue. The 2007 event that was rained on was an over 21 crowd event. The SRC preferred to play a minor role for the 2008 event.

After the meeting, Luebbert indicated that maybe the Promoters Club should help with with Rock'in On Main Street. The promoters club's mission is to promote the town and its community assets.

In other matters, Traci Lipp requested to be on the steering committee that will be involved with redevelopment area two, that includes the shopping centers and International Village.