Grand Forks city council wants to talk to the organizer of a proposed evening market before giving its blessing to the event.
Council discussed a request this week to hold a weekly vendor market in Lois Haggen Park starting in May, but had a number of concerns and questions.
City staff said they scrutinized the request, since it came from an individual rather than a society. The organizer plans to charge vendors $300 for spaces for the season.
“Because they’re not a nonprofit, the concern is you’re giving the space to an individual free of charge and they’re charging other people to set up in that area,” city manager Duncan Redfearn said.
He added that council can help an individual or business, so long as the community gets something in return. He said in other cases, a workaround has been for event organizers to apply through the Chamber of Commerce. Alternatively, Redfearn said the city could charge for the park’s use.
Some councillors expressed doubts about the location, thinking that it should be closer to Music in the Park, which is held in Gyro Park, but councillor Rod Zielinski said it wasn’t for council to second-guess the organizer’s plans.
Council made no decision on the request but will invite the organizer to speak to them.
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