Parke County adopts policy for covered‑bridge festival sites and designates Clay Plant Pottery

The Parke County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday adopted a written policy for approving off‑site destinations for the county’s Covered Bridge Festival and approved one site — Clay Plant Pottery — under that policy.

The action followed a presentation from a festival proponent and discussion among commissioners about fairness and public‑health requirements. A version of the policy read during the meeting requires that a destination be outside incorporated town limits, operate as a brick‑and‑mortar business, host more than 20 vendors who pay transient merchant fees, provide an appropriate number of porta‑potties maintained throughout the full 10 days of the festival and remain open for the festival’s entire run. “The location must be outside incorporated town limits. The location must operate as a brick and mortar business. The location must host more than 20 vendors … the location must remain open and operational for the entire 10 days of the festival,” the commissioner who read the draft told colleagues while presenting the draft criteria.

Commissioners debated whether to adopt an ordinance or a county policy/resolution. County staff said a resolution or county policy could set operational standards without imposing the penalties or publication requirements of an ordinance; the board chose to adopt the policy so the county could review and codify details later.

After discussing timing — including the festival map’s printing schedule — the board voted by voice to adopt the basic policy and then voted to approve Clay Plant Pottery as a destination under that policy. The vote was recorded as a voice vote with all members answering “aye.”

Commissioners said the policy approach allows the county to set baseline requirements now and refine the rules later. The board asked staff to draft a formal written resolution that will be brought back for codification and to notify applicants of the new criteria and any deadlines for inclusion on the festival map.

The board’s action creates a path for other property owners to petition the commissioners for destination status if they meet the published criteria; the board also retained the authority to revoke designations if sites fail to comply with county policy.

The meeting record shows the vote and that staff will prepare the formal document to finalize the policy before the next meeting.