Chamber volunteers to fund and water downtown hanging baskets under one‑season partnership

The Eldora Area Chamber of Commerce told the City Council it will buy and organize volunteers to maintain 28 hanging flower baskets on the town square after the council had voted earlier not to fund the program this season.

Christy Pence, representing the Eldora Area Chamber, said the chamber would purchase the flowers and line up volunteers to water them weekly for the season and asked the city to supply fuel, water, fertilizer and initial hanging using city equipment. "The Eldora Area Chamber of Commerce is offering to purchase and fund raise as we have done in the past," Pence said, adding the chamber had 18 confirmed volunteers so far and a plan for training and liability waivers.

Council members probed liability and logistics: whether the city employee (Mike Rogers) would hang baskets, how volunteers would access the UTV and where it would be stored, and whether volunteers would sign waivers. Michelle reported recent communication with the insurance carrier indicating volunteers could be covered if trained and if waivers were signed, though council members noted the potential budget exposure if claims were made.

After discussion the council moved to approve a one‑season partnership with the chamber under conditions that the chamber provide personnel, flowers and scheduling while the city would provide the hanging equipment and limited operational support. The motion passed in a roll call vote; the council recorded mixed votes but approved the arrangement for the current season only.

The chamber and city agreed to coordinate training, confirm storage and key access for the UTV, and finalize written waivers and an operations checklist before volunteers begin. The council emphasized the partnership is for one season, and any future commitments will require separate decisions.