Ferdinand Town Council: Amphitheater could be built without a single public dollar

During the course of a lengthy meeting, two things were made clear.

First: Ferdinand residents don’t object to the Ferdinand Folk Fest (which was not the topic under discussion but came up repeatedly at the Town Council/Park Board special meeting held September 18).

They do have concerns, especially those living in the area surrounding 18th Street Park, about people urinating in their yards, traffic snarls that pose a problem for emergency vehicle access, trespassers and noise.

Second: Neither do the residents object to building a covered stage (or amphitheater, as Council President Ken Sicard prefers to call it), AS LONG AS IT ISN’T BUILT IN THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF 18TH STREET PARK.

No, the capital letters are not a typographical error. They are there to stress a point that was made again and again by many of the over 40 residents in attendance (several of whom are high school government students). With three council members, three park board members, a clerk-treasurer, attorney and four members of the press, that made for a very crowded town hall meeting room. Some stood for the duration — almost two hours.

According to resident Dennis Werne, when 18th Street Park was developed some 20 years ago, the idea for an amphitheater was posited. At the time plans were to site it northeast of the Community Center, between the basketball court and new bathroom facilities.

Park Board President Scott Tretter provided some more recent history. He said back in 2008 the board entertained the idea of building a shelter/amphitheater/restroom facility with a large fire pit — long before Folk Fest had ever been an idea. Priorities changed, he noted, and the plan was scrapped after about a year of discussion. Meanwhile, restroom facilities were built.

“The goal tonight,” Tretter added, “is to figure out if there is a real need or use.”

Beyond use at the Heimatfest and Folk Fest, the Park Board would lease out the facility as they do shelters and playing fields. Tretter said if the town intends to build it, now is the time, prior to the 150th anniversary celebration to be hosted by Ferdinand Farmers Insurance next year and the 175th birthday of Ferdinand in 2015.

A slide show was presented starting with what had been proposed in 2008, as well as 12 other small amphitheaters used as examples. Plans now would call for an open structure measuring around 20 by 40 feet. Seating would likely not be included.

Sicard stated that while several locations have been scoped, no decision on site or whether or not to built the amphitheater has been made. This meeting, he added, was to garner community input.

Resident Pat Haake assured the council/board that what he and many of his neighbors object to is the location at the northeast corner, where the main Folk Fest stage is placed. Also the noise and traffic are problematic on that day, something he would not want to contend with weekly.

Other questions arose concerning a possible grant for the structure. Had the town or had they not applied? Former Town Manager Marc Steczyk said that yes, an application for a $15,000 grant from the Dubois County Community Foundation had been submitted but had not, as yet, been awarded.

What will it cost?

While that will ultimately depend on location and design, Sicard estimated a price tag of somewhere between $100,000 and $130,000.

Will taxes rise and how will the amphitheater/stage be paid for beyond a grant?

Both Sicard and Steczyk said numerous individuals had already come forward to offer financial support. “I feel very strongly that this structure can be built without a single public dollar,” Steczyk asserted.

In addition to the naysayers, there were also supporters. Rich Clark attended the meeting to hear about design and location. He wondered about lighting and other amenities that would make this viable.

Andy Hagedorn, an engineer who recently returned to Ferdinand after living elsewhere for 20 years, said that he and his family lived right across from a park in Seymour for the last 15 years. “That’s the first thing you do when you build a park. Either you build a park near houses or houses are built around a park.” The park in Seymour has a venue similar to what is being proposed and holds weekly concerts on Friday nights, which Hagedorn believes are very popular.

Student Drew Weyer said he and his friends host musical GuitarBQs at people’s houses. Ten or 15 musicians gather, bringing violins, acoustic guitars and upright bases and these food and music fests draw in friends and neighbors. Having a venue in which to perform would be ideal.

Student Max Rickelman advised, “If you’re completely against it, go out to dinner and get away from it because everybody loves music.”

But not everybody loves noise.

A fundraiser walk for Prater Willi Syndrome had been held the previous weekend in the park. Haake commented, “it was really loud.”

He also voiced another concern:”Once the stage is there, it’s there.”

Werne noted music from weddings at the Community Center also carries to his house.

Back on a positive note, Councilman Ron Weyer said he could envision other uses for the facility. “Some people might want to have their wedding there, which would be kind of neat, especially with the Community Center nearby.”

Many other ideas and suggestions were expressed.

At meeting’s end, Council woman Debbie Weyer enthused, “Can I just say this is awesome.” She added that the high school students were being exposed to the true workings of government and the council now has an idea of how the community feels.

Ron Weyer praised the crowd. “Everybody talked level headed and kept emotion out of it.”

Sicard added, “We’ve got to find ways to continue to bring people back and yet also keep the people that are here happy.” He wanted everyone to understand that a stagnant community is a dead community.

“It’s about quality of life,” Johnson asserted. “People want to live in a community that is safe, with good schools and lots of amenities.”

No decision on the amphitheater will be made without additional public meetings, so watch the News for future sessions which will most likely be held at the Senior Center so no one has to stand for two hours.