Changes for ‘Cheeseburger’ vendors monopolizes February council meeting

CASEVILLE - Items like a two to three vote in favor of the local Dollar General being approved for a SDM license from the Michigan Liquor Control Commission to allow them to sell beer and wine were small change at the February Caseville City Council meeting. Even the resignation, pending April 1st, of Council Member Rick Landry was overshadowed. Landry will be moving to Mio.

What 20-plus public guests were mostly there for was the city's plan to add charges to Cheeseburger in Caseville vendors booth fees to help cover city costs during the 10-day festival.

The main point in talks relating to "Cheeseburger" were supposed to be about ordinance revision made by the Ordinance Committee. These were in relation to vending permits, applications for vendors and other normal things that come along with having local events.

What the discussion turned into was local vendors and business owners showing their concern over a proposed vendor fee of $500 for the entire 10 days of the festival. This fee is not yet set in stone.

The idea behind the fee was to give the city some money toward paying for extra policing, cleaning of city streets and other expenses the city incurs during the Cheeseburger in Caseville festival each year. This particular city vendor fee would be charged on top of vendor fees paid to the establishment where the vendor sets up, such as the Methodist Church parking lot area.

There will be more talks on this issue at the March City Council meeting.

The public is welcome to come in and help the council come up with new ideas to make this fair for everyone.

To make an additional note, pointed out numerous times by council members, the resolution regarding the ordinance has nothing to do with vendor fees, which are looked over each year themselves.