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There were several discussions on how funds could be allocated toward the upcoming Kosciusko County Freedom Fest event during a Kosciusko County Convention, Recreation and Visitors Commission’s meeting on Wednesday.
Thames Goon, president of Echoes of the Past, asked for the commission to sponsor bringing the second largest American flag to the Freedom Fest in June. It would fly during the Freedom Fest, with Goon asking for $6,000, which would go to sponsoring the veterans who fly the flag.
“The flag is in Rantoul, Ill.,” stated Goon. “It will be flying for three days at the fairgrounds. This flag is 65’x125’… it’s stated that once this flag is flying you can see it for three miles.”
Mark Skibowski, commission president, brought up that if they do give Goon the grant, it is a reimbursement; and asked if he could pay for it up front. Goon stated that the club could not, which is why he was here. Commission member Mike Loher, who is also involved with Freedom Fest, asked how short Goon believed them to be, to which Goon answered $4,500.
Skibowski asked when this needed to be done and Goon answered by April 15. Skibowski stated that if it is sponsored, he will need to find further funding so he could pay it back.
Sandy Hatcher, with the World Compassion Network and ML Community Impact Alliance Inc., came to the podium, stating that she had talked with County Auditor Alyssa Schmucker and Loher and they had gone over some Indiana codes and policies. Skibowski stated he understood, but this was the constraint the commission was currently under, and they could not just modify it without the county commissioners’ approval.
“Is there a way we could start that process since the Visitor’s Bureau and the CCAC get money that’s not reimbursable?” asked Hatcher.
“They signed a contract,” replied Skibowski.
Hatcher asked what the process would be to change it, to which Skibowski answered they received the message from the State Board of Accounts on Friday, March 6 and will have to work on it further.
Schmucker, seeing some confusion going on, asked Goon if he had the $6,000 that his club could put forth toward the project, knowing that they would not get the money back. Goon answered that they could “maneuver money around” and “could adjust their financials” to make it possible.
The commission approved Goon’s request.
Hatcher asked the commission for a grant for Freedom Fest totaling $110,000. She also asked if there was a way to begin the process to make it so it was not a reimbursable grant. The money would be used for the entertainment that will be coming, attractions, and improvements to the fairgrounds.
“There will be lots of things in the county for people to go to and stay,” said Hatcher, “and $85,000 will be for the entertainment and attractions.”
Skibowski brought a letter from the county commissioners, along with three individual letters that were signed by the commissioners, that they are in support of Freedom Fest. He did comment that they started the process to have the way their grants are given out changed two years ago, but because of them being tax dollars, they must be accounted for.
“Without approval from the county council and the commissioners, we can’t arbitrarily decide to make that change,” Skibowski stated. “As I mentioned … we received information from the State Board of Accounts that while it’s not illegal for us to grant in one way, shape, or form a non-reimbursement; but we don’t have the procedures in place to do so today.”
Skibowski stated that while they are actively working on getting this done, it is not going to happen today. With the request that Hatcher was asking for, Skibowski asked her to give the commission the details of what is going to happen, who will be there, where and when it will happen and how much it will cost.
“You’ve got part of the grant fixing the fairgrounds, is the fairgrounds not able to come and ask for those things?” Skibowski added. “We must make sure what the funds go to what the grant requests are because otherwise, how can we account for them? We need specifics and to be able to validate from an invoice.”
Skibowski did note that he knows that the Freedom Fest committee is on a time-crunch, but they knew this was coming for 250 years.
Hatcher retorted that $15,000 is going to the fairgrounds, and that is for the community, not the fairgrounds. She also responded that they cannot sign a contract with an artist until they know they will receive the funds to do so.
“Because we are in a time crunch, if we got you a proposal for an entertainer and get the form to you, is there a way you can vote on that?” asked Hatcher.
“The grant is a reimbursable grant,” responded Schmucker. “If the commission decides they want to fund any part of the grant today … if we get the pathway of funding corrected in time, then that could be an advanced grant type situation. With that being said, if we can’t get to the funding … then at least you’ve approved something … If we get to where we can fund it in the advanced manner, and they provide any additional information that you’re requesting … you’ve approved it with the caveats, and they will have their money.”
Lyle Schrock, commission vice president, stated that if they want to make it the biggest event in northern Indiana and make it effective, marketing should have already started, which Loher responded that it has. Schrock also brought up that the fairgrounds should be coming to the commission with the request. He noted that it looks risky and is also concerning.
Hatcher asked if the commission could do what Schmucker recommended, to which Skibowski stated that they have no idea what an artist is going to cost, but it should not be hard to get an estimate on it. Skibowski noted that they needed the questions answered before agreeing on the caveats and a letter of commitment that Hatcher and the Freedom Fest Committee will pay it back.
“We can come up with a budget of $45,000 to $50,000 for an artist and the rest is for other events,” stated Hatcher. “If you guys could approve X amount of dollars, at least $90,000, it would allow us to move forward with whatever restrictions and promises that you need.”
Chris Polk, commission member, asked if Loher could elaborate more on how much it costs to book an artist, since he has done it many times in the past. Loher, who was abstaining from the vote because of his affiliation with ML Community Impact Alliance Inc., stated that the artist they were looking for would be between $45,000 to $50,000 and the rest would be for fees and hospitality.
With further unease about approving the grant for $90,000, the commission tabled it until Hatcher, the Freedom Fest Committee and ML Community Impact Alliance Inc. could give them further details.
They will hold a special meeting at 9 a.m. Wednesday, April 22 to discuss the matter further.
