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Trustees debate whether to hold South Jacksonville Celebration and how to spend $80,000 in tourism funds
Summary
Board members discussed charging admission or vendor fees, narrowing hours, using volunteers, or canceling the annual Celebration and reallocating roughly $80,000 in tourism funds to parks; some trustees warned cancellation could damage partnerships with long-time event partners.
Trustees spent significant time weighing whether to hold the South Jacksonville Celebration this year and how to use tourism funds if the event is canceled.
Trustee J.W. Coleman proposed charging admission and requiring vendors to pay, saying the Village needs to recoup costs and focus tourism dollars on parks. Trustee Steve Retzer agreed the Village should at least recoup expenses. Trustee Paula Belobrajdic-Stewart worried about volunteer capacity and staff burden, saying cancelling could sever the Village’s partnership with Prairieland Steam Show (PLHM). Trustee Coleman suggested daytime-only hours and vendor kickbacks; President Richard Samples and Attorney Roland Cross are exploring whether tourism funds could be applied to other needs.
No formal vote was taken; trustees asked staff to prepare options and the item will return to a future agenda. Discussion included an estimate that the Village would save about $80,000 in tourism funds if the celebration were not held, and suggestions that police staffing and ride costs be reconsidered.
