Funding is recommended

A holiday light show is planned for Jay County Fairgrounds in November.

Jay County Economic Development Income Tax Advisory Committee on Wednesday voted to recommend the county allot $50,000 toward the display. Now the recommendation moves for approval from Jay County Council and Jay County Commissioners.

Deb Gillespie of Jay County Fair Board and others on the Christmas lighting committee approached the advisory board requesting funding to jumpstart the new event. She noted the group has already purchased $40,000 in lights for the coming year. (The fair board also purchased about $4,000 in lights for 2020.)

“We’re trying to do it right,” Gillespie said.

The light show is expected to run from Nov. 19 through nearly the end of the year.

So far, the committee organizing the event has ordered a range of light configurations, such as a carousel, dinosaurs and trees.

About $72,000 in revenue is expected from the show, Gillespie explained. That figure takes into account charging at least $10 at the gate ($15 on Fridays and Saturdays) and about $32,000 in sponsorships.

The group will also be renting spots along the drive for local businesses or citizens to fill with lights for $100.

Council member Ted Champ noted groups like those in Marion and Union City take free-will donations for entry and don’t charge.

“I think if we actually set a fee at the gate, you’ll hear about that,” Champ said.

Gillespie noted the event committee had discussed taking free-will donations at its last meeting.

Portland City Council approved $3,538.58 in EDIT funds for lights at the fairgrounds display Monday. Earlier that day, the city’s EDIT advisory committee met to recommend the funding request be approved.

Typically, about $75,000 are designated toward local amenities from EDIT dollars each year, said Jay County Development Corporation executive director Travis Richards. This includes groups such as the Fourth of July committee, Jay County Historical Society and Arts in the Parks. Currently, the EDIT fund holds about $1.3 million.

EDIT advisory committee member Doug Loy said he supports having a light show in Jay, but he expressed concern about the overall cost.

“My thinking is how much money can we afford to put in light displays in the community when there’s other projects that we need to be focusing on?” he asked.

He added this may encourage other municipalities in the county to approach the board for similar funding.

Jay County Commissioner Chad Aker encouraged the idea.

“You know, I guess if Dunkirk decides they want to do something, at that point they can come to us then, and we can do it on a case-by-case basis,” he said.

Loy noted this was an issue similar to the EDIT advisory committee’s November meeting about Jay County Humane Society. The board was worried the shelter would ask for more money than just initial $275,000, although it recommended the amount to Jay County Commissioners. (The commissioners approved the amount in December and rescinded it in January.)

Aker suggested making the $50,000 a one-time gift.

“It’s the Jay County Fairgrounds,” Champ later clarified. “It’s for everybody, not just Portland people.”

The intention would be to purchase some new lights each year as well to keep the display fresh, Loy noted. Gillespie agreed.

“If we projected it all correctly, that would be on us,” Gillespie said.

Loy said many Portland businesses may not be open at night, making it difficult for them to benefit from the event.

Jay County Chamber of Commerce executive director Tabby Sprunger said businesses in town participating in Winterfest activities last year were receptive to keeping longer hours.

“This is just going to go along (with Winterfest), so I do think they’ll be receptive,” Sprunger said.

The lighting festival will last nearly a month and a half, Loy noted, adding that is a longer period of time than the few weekends Winterfest lasted in 2020.

“The lights are not going to start until it’s dark, and unfortunately most of our retail stores close before it’s dark,” Loy said.

Gillespie suggested starting at 6 p.m. Loy then asked Sprunger if she has asked local merchants if they are willing to stay open later for that timespan. From the few she has spoken with so far, she said, they’ve been open to the idea.

Jay County Commissioner Brian McGalliard said he’d like to give some amount to each local municipality putting up Christmas lights. Aker recommended they wait for requests instead of designating a certain amount of funds to each. He mentioned last year, Portland didn’t host a fireworks display, so the county gave $5,000 each to Dunkirk and Redkey instead of their usual $2,500.

Champ again addressed his concern about setting a fee at the gate. Aker agreed.

“I think if you set a fee you’re kind of limiting yourself,” Aker said.

The EDIT advisory committee voted to recommend committing $50,000 for the lights on the condition that the fair board accept free-will donations rather than charge admission. Loy was the only dissenting vote.