Commissioner Dave Hartmann opened discussion of the Fat Tire Festival last Tuesday with concerns that Parks had taken up the work of running the festival without knowing the cost. He questioned if commissioners needed to make a motion to operate it.
Chair Bill Featherstone explained that it had been up to Justin Huss as director to decide whether Parks took on that responsibility, and that he had.
Huss said that the event has had challenges with ownership and a saturated NWA bike race schedule, but he’s discussing a budget with the CAPC and looking at how to break down sponsorships.
Hartmann asked about the budget proposal which Huss said was $20,000 from CAPC. Featherstone expressed that he wasn’t sure that the event would have an impact on Parks cash-wise.
Hartmann asked if Parks should allocate money for a planning position and Featherstone said they should give staff time to learn what that cost would be, and Huss interjected that the event time is the same and that Parks knows the number of volunteers needed for the events.
Hartmann was still concerned about resources and Featherstone offered to tackle the topic more at the next workshop, Oct. 1.