Town fees waived for Turtlefest weekend

Jeff Helsdon, Editor

Tillsonburg council was behind a request to waive town fees for Turtlefest, but initially struggled over the best process to make it happen.

Saying it’s the largest festival in town, attracting thousands of people, Terry Fraser of the Turtlefest Planning Committee said the event includes the whole community.

“It attracts attendees not only from Tillsonburg, but across Southwestern Ontario, and beyond,” he said.

The no-charge event is possible because sponsors pay for many activities during the day, but Fraser said there are still fixed costs such as electricity, advertising, security, staging, and signage. While the town has provided financial and logistical support over the past 12 years, this year the financial support was halved, and there are additional costs.

“I understand there is a requirement for activities to pay for logistical support like closing of the streets, etc. This adds a second financial difficulty this year,” Fraser said, asking council members to waive these fees for this year.

Director of Finance/Treasurer Reno Pullia said a new town bylaw intended to help expedite event applications doesn’t allow staff to waive fees. Regarding Turtlefest, there is an estimated $3,124 in fees for encroachment permits, barricades, signs, equipment use, and other items.

“It was not a matter of us not using the money wisely, but a matter of they only had so many dollars, and we were welcome to request a grant in the future,” he added.

Development Commissioner Cephas Panschow agreed that historically Turtlefest organizers didn’t have to pay fees.

Coun. Chris Rosehart asked and was told that council put $4,500 towards the event. Pullia said the money came from the council’s $7,500 budget to support local events and groups.

Mayor Deb Gilvesy asked how much was left in that budget, and was told it was $1,333.

Pullia said the fee bylaw is coming to council at the next meeting for a mid-year update, and suggested an addition could be made to exempt Turtlefest.

Gilvesy suggested waiving the fee in the meantime.

The initial motion coming forward out of the discussion, moved by Coun. Kelly Spencer and seconded by Coun. Chris Rosehart, was to waive the fees for Turtlefest this year and going forward.

With the next council meeting three days after Turtlefest and the bylaw not coming forward until then, the discussion was that this route wouldn’t work, as changes can’t be made to a bylaw and it apply retroactively.

Pullia said the resolution does not amend the bylaw, and exempting the entire amount would result in an overage in council expenses.

Clerk Trish McKibbin said it’s a “slippery slope” to start not following the town’s bylaws.

Deputy Mayor Dave Beres asked if it would work to waive the fees and change the bylaw after, and was told that was a possible solution.

In the end, the resolution that passed called for paying $1,333 from the council budget account and funding the remainder from the tax rate stabilization reserve.