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58th Annual Clermont Rodeo Is A Go
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Ron Penn
Photo by Linda Karn |
(posted Feb 14)
The 58th Annual Clermont Rodeo is on for June 20 and 21. Ron Penn, from the Rodeo
Roundup Radio Show, asked the town council for support and told them
their fears of losing the rodeo are over.
Penn is a local resident who became involved with the rodeo due to the
passing of Larry Davis, DVM. Davis was one of the major monetary sponsors
who also provided stock for the rodeo. Penn stressed the historical importance
of the Clermont Rodeo to the profession by stating it is the second oldest
consecutive running rodeo east of the Mississippi.
Penn is looking to the town to expand the activities to increase the rodeo's
popularity. He thought a parade or to combine the Old Fashion Days with
the event would create a bigger town momentum to draw a bigger crowd. He
said the rodeo profession is growing in popularity with over 500 television
hours devoted to the sport.
Councilor Nancy Baxter, who chairs the Old Fashion Days, was not sure if
they could combine the two events for 2008 because she did not want the
Ben Davis Marching Band to be omitted from the parade. She was not sure
if she could reschedule the band from August to June.
Councilor Walt Miller suggested the town support the rodeo with a
$250 donation. Legal Counsel Robert Lutz said the funding would have to
be given as a gesture of economic development for the town.
Penn understood about the time constraints and recommended that 2009 would
be better to combine the two events.
President Bob Hinshaw recommended Baxter and Miller form a committee on
combining the two events since the "Old Fashion Days is on a downhill
run." He asked them to make a report at the March meeting.
The council will also have to examine a resolution at the next meeting
to accept business donations to pay for Ball State University College of
Architecture graduate students to conduct an April 10-12 town visioning
meeting at the Clermont Lions' Building. The cost is estimated at $5,000.
Hinshaw said he had a problem with Walt Miller's request because the town council in previous meetings has always stated this was not town instigated but Miller acting independently to bring economic vitality to the town with the assistance of Ball State.
Hinshaw said it was a "promise" to the town's people that the
town would not sponsor this nor use taxpayer dollars to fund the project.
His other concern was if money passed through the town's account that it
would be responsible for outstanding bills if not enough sponsors donated
money.
Baxter said she did not have a problem with moving the town forward as long as taxpayer dollars were not used.
Miller said he needed the town to act as a conduit to pass the donors'
money so they could write it off their taxes.
Lutz explained at this point the council had nothing to vote on until a
resolution is placed before them at the next meeting. Lutz noted that if
the town accepts the responsibility it would subject future steering committee
events to the open door law.
Hinshaw announced that he received a medical letter stating that Vonda Kiger had to take a leave of absence for six months, leaving the council to operate with a four member board.
Kiger will continued to be paid during her absence.
Baxter said she is looking into the possibility of leasing Christmas decorations at $125 a pole for about 30 poles. She said the town would no longer have to worry about decoration replacement, storage, mounting or dismounting the decorations.
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