By Lee Ross
Mountain View Telegraph
One of Edgewood's long-standing events is a little more autonomous.
What used to be the town's Run, Rally and Rock event was recently trademarked by the Edgewood Chamber of Commerce, according to Executive Director Myra Oden.
While she has asked the town to contribute advertising money, in her announcement to the chamber during its July 2 meeting she said that the focus of the event will be a celebration of Old Route 66. The event began as a celebration of the anniversary of the town's incorporation.
She said she has not told the town all of the details yet.
“This is our major fundraiser,” Oden said. “I'm proud of our board of directors.”
Oden's news was met with applause. It came after a speech by Roger Alink, who founded Wildlife West Nature Park.
He was asking for contributions or for people to show support by hanging signs in their windows.
After a change in the town's elected officials, Alink's park was left with a $20,000 shortfall, money the town had previously budgeted for the event, but was not bound by contract to deliver.
Part of the reason given for not coming through with funding was that the town was violating the state's anti-donation clause.
“Apparently, it was legal until recently,” Alink said. “For some reason I don't think anybody understands; that money was withdrawn from the budget.”
The town's attorney, Marcus Rael, appeared before the Edgewood Town Council on the same night as the meeting to clarify the clause.
“I'd like you to tell us if there is some way the town could produce a music festival,” Mayor Robert Stearley told Rael by way of introducing the subject.
Rael said the event would have to clearly be a town event and that the event's benefit to the town must be documented.
“They don't have to write a check for $15,000 and get $15,000 back,” he said.
Rael said the value to the town in tourist dollars, education or another benefit must be reported clearly for the council to quantify.
Councilor Brad Hill said he felt the statement conflicted with a previous opinion rendered by the attorney.
According to a letter sent out by Rael's firm, state law says government entities cannot donate to private individuals or entities — a category that includes the nonprofit park.
Rael said a key issue is a consideration of the value returned to the town and repeated the importance of having that outlined for the council.
“This is a policy decision. What does the town consider is valuable consideration?” Rael said.
Councilor Glenn Felton suggested a special meeting to discuss town contributions to events.
“I think that we instinctively kind of knew that there was something not quite right,” he said, referring to the way the festival was handled in the past.
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