Athabasca town council has been taken aback by statements from the Magnificent River Rats Festival Society regarding the Town of Athabasca’s involvement in the festival, which ran June 29-30 at the riverfront.
Council passed a motion last Wednesday to look into the in-kind donation total that will include man hours, as well as its cash donation of $7,500 to the festival.
“There were some concerns issued,” Mayor Roger Morrill said of festival organizers.
Town of Athabasca chief administrative officer (CAO) Ryan Maier said the town had a meeting with the festival executive before the festival.
“We had a meeting with them and asked them what they needed of us,” Maier said. “At that time, they wanted some representation at the meetings, which we arranged for.”
Councillor George Hawryluk attended a River Rats meeting.
“I asked for council’s approval to attend their very first meeting. During that meeting, I asked what they expected us to do,” Hawryluk explained. “That was the only meeting I attended because I didn’t see the need to attend any more.
“I walked out of the meeting thinking we did a sufficient job as town council,” he said. “I find it a little bit interesting that in the paper, I read the opposite: a cry for help.”
Maier said on top of the cash donation, the multiplex society ran the kids zone at the festival.
“They also made use of our Visitor Information Centre staff for the duration of the festival,” Maier said. “Anything that was requested of our outside services, they were provided with.
“I am not aware of anything they asked for that we did not provide them,” Maier added.
Hawryluk said he had thought the festival executive was satisfied with the town’s involvement.
Councillor Lionel Cherniwchan wanted to know the total money the town spent on the festival.
“That way we can show them what our contribution in-kind was, and why,” he said.
Council extended an invitation to Magnificent River Rats Festival organizers to address council regarding their concerns.
