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Coweta County committee proposes bicentennial kickoff concert; staff seeks $5,600 for initial planning
Summary
Bicentennial committee members presented a multi-part plan of events and proposed a two-phase producer contract for a 2027 kickoff concert: Phase 1 -- a site plan and budget for $5,600; Phase 2 -- event management services up to $49,000 if the board approves proceeding after Phase 1.
County staff leading the Coweta County bicentennial committee told commissioners they have developed podcasts, a book challenge, genealogy classes and a '200 acts of kindness' campaign and are exploring a larger concert and festival to help mark the county’s 200th anniversary. The committee asked permission to engage a festival producer to develop a site plan and budget.
The proposal: Parks and recreation and other committee members described a two-phase approach with an experienced festival producer. Phase 1 would bring the producer on-site to generate a fully flushed site plan and budget for $5,600. If the board supports the concept after Phase 1, Phase 2 would include producer services to run the event, with a proposed not-to-exceed cost of about $49,000 for orchestration and management; the final scope would be negotiable and some services could be provided by county departments to reduce costs.
Funding and revenue: Staff said they expect the event to be self-funded through ticket sales, vendor fees, sponsorships and other revenue sources but that the county would need some upfront money for planning. Commissioners asked about parking, insurance, alcohol service and the potential for multi-day formats; staff said the Phase 1 deliverable will include more detailed cost projections for parking, security and site logistics.
Timing and scope: Staff proposed holding the concert in 2027 as a kickoff into the next 200 years and have two potential fairgrounds dates on hold (April and July). The Parks and Recreation presenter said the April date is preferred. Staff also noted fairgrounds expansion and parking improvements are underway and will factor into site logistics.
Next steps: Commissioners asked for the Phase 1 package and recommended staff return with the producer’s specific scope and a draft contract so the board can make a formal decision at a future meeting. No funding was approved at this work session.
