Site of festival unsure

DUNKIRK - An apparent failure to communicate surfaced at Monday night's city council meeting.

Topic of discussion was the 2010 Glass Days Festival planned for June 2-5.

Dunkirk Park Board president Oma Scruggs led off the discussion, saying she was surprised to learn about that the festival was tentatively planned to be held in Dunkirk City Park from an article last week in The News and Sun, Dunkirk's weekly newspaper.

Scuggs said no one from the Glass Days Festival Committee had approached the park board about holding the festival in the park.

Mayor Ron Hunt and other city council members also said they had first learned about the festival plans through the newspaper article.

The long-time festival, which is traditionally held downtown, was moved to the park for the past two years because of the reconstruction of Main Street (Ind. 167) through the city.

Councilman Eric Bowler said he thought officials planned to survey Dunkirk residents regarding the future site of the festival.

The survey would question whether residents preferred holding Glass Days in the park or downtown, Bowler said.

Introducing herself at Monday night's council meeting, 2010 Glass Days Festival chairperson Roberta Garringer apologized for how city officials learned about the committee's plans. She said the necessary electrical hook-ups for the festival were now all located at the park and it would be expensive to move everything back downtown.

Garringer said the festival is a big plus for the community, and she wanted to see it continue.

"I don't want to see Glass Days stopped either," council member Chuck Rife said.

Garringer said she believed vendors and attendees were happy with having the festival in the park, but added: "We want to do what the city wants us to do."

Garringer also apologized for not making the necessary arrangements for having her name placed on the council agenda in time for Monday's meeting and requested placement on the agenda for the council's next meeting (March 22).

Garringer added the whole point of having the festival is to have fun. "If we're not going to have fun, let's not do it," she said.

A member of the audience at Monday's meeting, Dru Hall interjected that he thought better communication is needed.

Hunt announced Monday he is instituting a new procedure for audience members to address the council. Those wishing to be placed on the council agenda should submit a request in writing at the city clerk's office prior to noon on the Wednesday before the council meeting.

The next meeting of the Dunkirk Park Board is scheduled for 5:45 p.m. March 31 in city hall. Garringer said Glass Days Festival Committee representatives will plan to be present at that meeting.[[In-content Ad]]