Algonac Councilman Michael Bembas leads the charge
By Barb Pert Templeton
The number of special events being hosted in Algonac has been growing over the last few years and the paperwork and permits involved can amount to a lot of work.
Keeping that in mind Councilman Michael Bembas told City Manager Artie Bryson at an April 7 meeting that he’d like to see the topic of event application fees being added to a future city council agenda. He said the city’s getting plenty of applications and he’s thinking about the people who work for the city having to handle them.
The public might not realize all the details that come with filing an application and planning an event, Bembas said. There’s checking with the police department and the fire department and perhaps even having the gas company come out and check the lines underneath.
He suggested that if an event application is submitted within 44 days of an event that there be a fee, even something like $50.
“What happens is our employees end up jumping through a lot of hoops and it puts pressure on them,” Bembas said. “Why are we adding extra stress, somebody at this table told me, I think it went, ‘your lack of planning isn’t my emergency.”
Special event applications are available on the City of Algonac website at cityofalgonac.org.
He went on to state that the city can sit down with applicants with a per diem per hour so that the paperwork is done in a timely manner.
“I’d like to ask the city manager to look into that with council’s blessing, unless it’s just me,” Bembas said, as members of the council said they would support the plan.
Other officials share ideas
Bryson said truthfully, he feels they need to take a look at the whole event application process.
While it’s not a big deal when a local church wants to have an Easter service that’s a ten-minute thing, Bembas said when you get into big projects and the city has a limited number of employees things still have to be done professionally and properly,
“And we’re bringing in bigger events than we’ve had previously,” Mayor Pro Tem Dawn Davey said.
“So, if we keep bringing in these big events, we may have to hire a part-time person just to do events,” Bembas said. “But then how do they get paid? So, if they’re doing this for you there should be recompense for that project.”
Councilwoman Wendy Meldrum asked if the work would fall to the city’s new event coordinator Cindy Babiscz?
“She’s going to be doing some of them,” Bryson replied. “I started working with the Algonac Lions for their permit, I didn’t want to throw that on her in the middle of it to be fair, so she’s doing some of the smaller ones now.”
Meldrum said it would be nice to have a deadline for filing the applications so if it isn’t met there would be a charge.
Councilman Michael Bembas told council members he’d like them to consider charging a fee for those seeking event applications in the city. Bembas brought it up at the April 7 council meeting and he’s pictured her with Councilwoman Wendy Meldrum on the end left, Mayor Pro Tem Dawn Davey and Mayor Rocky Gillis on the right.
Councilman Jake Skarbek said there is a deadline in place now, technically.
“But there’s no teeth to it or no charge,” Bembas said. “So, if you get it in there 44 days or less there should be some kind of charge.”
“An expediting fee,” Councilman Ed Carter added.
Mayor Rocky Gillis said every event requires planning and having the proper procedures in place.
“I remember one time I had a member of an organization that were upset about our safety and security and how tight we are on that. I just said just remember if something bad happens, you’re not speaking at the press conference, I am,” Gillis said. “That’s what’s on all of us up here, to make sure every event and everything that happens in this town is fiscally responsible and safe. “
Skarbek said it shouldn’t take longer than an hour to fill out an event application with the map being the hardest part.
“What happens is our employees end up jumping through a lot of hoops and it puts pressure on them. Why are we adding extra stress, as somebody at this table told me, I think it went, ‘your lack of planning isn’t my emergency.”
Algonac Councilman Michael Bembas on city employees processing special event applications.
Davey said over the years the city has updated how things work for events due to safety issues but perhaps they haven’t looked at the whole big picture of how things go and it’s time to do that now.
“I also think that when that event application is presented to the board all pieces should be included, it shouldn’t be missing something – like in review with the sheriff’s department – it all should be included,” Meldrum offered, adding that she’s sure the planning and ZBA have guidelines of how things need to be completed and if it’s missing the applicant has to wait for the next meeting.
Bembas concluded the discussion by saying it shouldn’t be the city’s responsibility to make sure all the applicant’s items are completed.
“We’re not paying the city to do this we’re paying them to review it,” Bembas said.
