City Council zaps Junction Days electrical request

RED OAK — Just over a month away, plans for the Red Oak Chamber and Industry Association’s annual Junction Days celebration are moving forward with one slight hiccup — electricity.

Pride in Red Oak committee member Chris Amos approached the City Council last week to ask for assistance in providing electricity to the new parking lot on 2nd St., which the Council had approved for the beer garden and band. After much discussion, the Council denied Amos’ request because of its $3,400 price tag.

This was to be the first time this particular lot, which was completed in the fall during the downtown street and sidewalk renovation, would be used for the event, and according to Amos, it is a much nicer representation of the City than the previously used lot on 4th St., which is in poor shape.

In past years, electricity was provided to the 4th St. lot via generous neighbors who allowed the committee to tap into their electrical boxes and run extension cords to the bandstand area.

Amos said they looked into doing something similar at the new location, but after several different failed attempts, they discovered the only way to get power is to have Mid-America installa meter post, which can be turned on and off as needed in the City-owned lot.

City Administrator Brad Wright, along with Mayor Bill Billings and other Council members expressed concern with this idea.

“We’re in the middle of a downtown renovation project, part of which includes revamping the bandstand (in Fountain Square Park) and putting it closer to the street so we can have street dances there, and all the necessary power is part of that process,” Wright said. “I guess I’m wondering once that project is complete, isn’t that where dances and events will typically take place? So I’m looking at $3,400 for probably a one time use.”

Amos argued having electrical capabilities, the lot, which is adjacent to the Red Oak Library, could be used for future events making the cost more of an investment for the City.

“This is just a beautiful place for the City, to me,” Amos said. “What you’ve done with that parking lot, it looks great and I just see other events at this location… I don’t want the City saying [Junction Days] is a Chamber event and I don’t want the Chamber saying it’s a City event. I want it to be working together, that’s why we would like to have it in this location.”

Following Amos’ comment, which later was deemed a miscommunication, Councilmember Larry Barnett said it wasn’t fair to accuse the City of not supporting Junction Days and other Association events.

“Considering a good portion of the operating funds the Chamber comes into, that hurt,” Billings said. “I think we work together real well, but I have to concur with the Council’s feeling on expenditures, and obviously it’s their decision but it felt like you were making an innuendo that the City doesn’t work with the Chamber or that this is like a Chamber or City event.”

Councilmember Jeanice Lester said if the Association would pay half of the $3,400 fee then the Council might consider paying the other half; the Council would not comment on whether they would agree to even pay half, though, at the meeting.

Due to lack of time, Amos, along with Chamber Specialist Jodie Smith, requested to put an item on the May 20 agenda to request street closures at the 4th St. location with the hope of being able to secure the same electrical source as last year.

In other business, the Council discussed amending the no parking ordinance in relation to trailer parking on City streets.

Clifford Betts of Bett’s Home Improvement was present at the meeting and said he has gotten numerous parking tickets throughout the years for leaving his construction trailer parked outside a home throughout the duration of a project, and often times, the street is the only available place to park.

The Council, per Wright’s recommendation, unanimously agreed an amendment needed to be made when it comes to a construction trailer used during a project.

The amendment to the ordinance will be placed on the next meeting’s agenda for a vote.