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Lewisville council agrees to study using $15,000 to boost Memorial Day, seed community events
Summary
After a presentation on Old Town events and a $1.5 million events budget, council signaled support for using a reallocated $15,000 either to bolster Memorial Day/Veterans programming or seed small community-run events; staff will return with a plan.
Council members and staff spent the workshop portion of Monday evening weighing options for $15,000 previously set aside after the city ended its cattle‑drive parade.
City events staff, speaking through Mr. Kratke, told the council that Lewisville’s special events drew about “57,000 attendees” in the past 12 months and that the city’s events budget is “about a million and a half dollars,” funded primarily by hotel‑occupancy (tourism) funds. Kratke cautioned that hotel‑fund revenue is volatile and can’t be used for general city operations.
Council members offered competing uses for the modest pool of money. Some favored directing the funds to Memorial Day or Veterans Day programming — including adding traditional elements such as pipes and drums and increased publicity — noting a local volunteer, Steve Southwell, has led past Memorial Day events and is willing to work with the city. Others argued the $15,000 might buy a light‑show enhancement for the holiday stroll or be used as seed grants for nonprofit or community groups to create new neighborhood events.
Mayor TJ Gilmore summarized council sentiment as leaning toward “either boosting Memorial Day” or supporting community seed grants, and staff agreed to develop a more formal proposal. Councilmembers cautioned that $15,000 is small relative to the overall events budget but could help catalyze private or nonprofit activity.
What happens next: staff will draft a recommendation outlining specific uses or a small grants process and return to council for formal direction.
Quote: “We just got a call this afternoon… the senior rodeo is not going to come back next year,” Mr. Kratke said, underscoring the need to reallocate dollars to fill program gaps.
