So everywhere that I have gone around town over my vacation people have asked me about Wing Ding 2009. I get Email asking about Wing Ding 2009. Everybody wants to give me suggestions about Wing Ding 2009.
I don't know where Wing Ding 2009 will be and right now it isn't really a big concern for me. I know that we will get it done. I just know that it won't be in Loves Park. I truly believe that Wing Ding 2009 will be bigger and better than ever! Yeah, I truly believe that.
This will be the 10th Wing Ding that I have put together. The show itself has come a long way in that time. My first Wing Ding was in 2000 and we had 3 bands. I had $6000.00 to put a show together. Gates were at noon and the first band started at 1:00. Wing Ding of the past years at the Speedway have been a bit different. It has become a full fledged Rock Concert. Wing Ding has become what we had hoped it would become when we moved it to the Rockford Speedway.
We don't have any plans to have it be smaller!
Last night at a Christmas Party Wing Ding came up and a girl looked at me and said that it is "too big and too successful. Why would Loves Park want that?" I couldn't help but smile. Why would a community want something Big and Successful? Why would a community want something that brings in patrons from all over the country? I guess that has been the thought process around here for years.
Wing Ding will be back bigger and better than ever in 2009 you can count on.
To the second part of my blog today.
Mayor Darryl Lindberg just doesn't get it.
When I started my campaign it was encouraging people to get involved in the political process. It has to do with making sure our public officials follow procedure that they have put into place. The mayor doesn't like that. Here is a letter that I drafted to Mayor Lindberg.
Mayor Lindberg,
I am disappointed in the way that your city has handled the WXRX Wing Ding at the Rockford Speedway. I would also like to say that this is not a personal vendetta against you. It is merely anger and disappointment in the way a city government has acted. I hope that you can see that I have not done anything underhanded, but have merely pointed out where I think there is something wrong. I have the utmost respect for someone who has run for office and puts themselves out there for criticism that is why I have always referred to you as Mayor.
Through the process my goal has not been to have Wing Ding at the Rockford Speedway, I am not even worried about where the concert will be, my goal has been to get people involved in their local government, to follow them and hold them "more accountable".
I would hope that you would agree that is a good thing for all citizens.
I would like you to answer a couple of questions for me.
1.) Did the Mayors office and Loves Park City
2.) If yes, could you please explain how to me?
3.) Could you show me in the City Code where it discusses "Verbal
Special Event Permit Request"
I just don't seen how you have followed the codes and regulations that you were involved in drafting.
1.) Maverick Media, nor the Rockford Speedway ever filled out an "Application for a Special Use Permit". Your Municipal Code Sec 54-278 clearly states that:
APPLICATION FOR A SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT SHALL BE MADE by the
agent or operator of the special event, or by the property owner where the
special event will be held, ON A FORM PRESCRIBED BY THE CITY CLERK, no later than
30 days in advance of a special event which the applicant anticipates will have
an attendance of 900 or less people, and no later than 60 days in advance of
the scheduled date of a special event which the applicant anticipates will have
an attendance of more than 900 people."
Any application made under this section shall contain the following information:
(1) The name and address of the applicant;
(2) The estimated attendance of the special event;
(3) The place where the special event is to be held;
(4) The local business address and telephone number of the applicant;
(5) The full name of the responsible agent;
(6) The number of paved parking spaces which the applicant will make available for use by attendees of the special event;
(7) The number of handicapped parking spaces which the applicant will make available for use by attendees of the special event;
(8) The number of portable restrooms which the applicant will make available for use by attendees of the special event; and
(9) Such additional information as may be required by the city clerk or city council including such evidence that the applicant, if an individual, or the person in charge of the business, if a firm or corporation, is a responsible person of good character and reputation and has provided for security, crowd control and the abatement of any potential nuisances arising from the special event.
I don’t believe any
of these elements were included in a "Verbal Special Event Permit
Request".
Matter of fact I don't see any provision for a "Verbal Special Event Permit Request" anywhere in the city code. Could you let me know where I could find that in the City Code and Regulations?
I am on vacation until January 5th, but would gladly come into the radio station to discuss this with you on the air.
With Respect,
Jim Stone
Operation Manager
Maverick Media
The mayor seems to be blinded by his own hatred of the event and Maverick Media that he can't tell the difference. The Loves Park City council was in such hurry to get rid of the successful event that they forgot to follow there own procedure. The mayor does not understand that. He seems to think that he can do whatever he wants. Here are a couple of excerpts from an email that I received from The Honorable Mayor Lindberg
The City has made it's decision and the issue is
over. I'm sorry you can't accept the fact that we do not care to host this
event in our City any more.
You chose to attempt to incite everyone because Maverick Media did not get it's
way. I think it would have been a better tactic to inform your listeners
that every attempt was being made to find another location but I guess it makes
better radio time to make everyone mad. As far as the written special event
permit, I did ask Jay Chapman to submit this months ago and he did not do
this. The reason a verbal request was used is because I was told that the bands
needed to be booked by the end of December so we allowed the question to come
before the Council by a verbal motion. We are done discussing this issue
further.
It is rather obvious that the Mayor and the City Council make the rules as they see fit.
Mayor Darryl Lindberg is up for Re-election this year.
Just like a politician...he chose not to answer any of my questions, but just decided to point fingers at someone else
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