The Merrill Committee of the Whole will consider an ordinance next Tuesday to establish a committee to manage the Merrill Festival Grounds.
According to the proposed ordinance, the Festival Grounds Committee will oversee the marketing, development and maintenance of the Festival Grounds, and “increase Festival Grounds usage for the good of the community and surrounding area.”
The committee shall consist of city officials, user group representatives, and citizens of Lincoln County who will work with the City of Merrill and the Common Council.
The committee is responsible for the day-to-day management and maintenance of the grounds and its facilities, and may hire a facility director for that purpose, providing funds are available, as well as assigning functions to city staff.
The committee would be have the power to authorize payment of reasonable compensation for services rendered.
The committee would also plan and implement Festival Grounds building projects. This includes the construction of new buildings and facilities, major landscaping projects, etc. The committee will seek approval when required from the Merrill Common Council.
The committee membership would be appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the Common Council. The committee will consist of 12 voting members. City of Merrill representatives shall not be associated with the groups that have representation on the Board. Representatives that sit on the board from each of the groups shall be elected or appointed by those groups.
The breakdown of members would be: Two Merrill Common Council members, Merrill City Administrator, City Engineer/Public Works Director, Merrill Park & Recreation Department Director, Enrichment Center Director, Rodeo Association representative, Fair Association representative,food vendor group representative, 4-H Leaders Association representative, two at-large City of Merrill area representatives (shall not be alderpersons) and the mayor as an ex-officio member.
The Committee would meet monthly, and at the call of the Committee Chair, if deemed necessary.
The organization operating budget would be completed annually and approved by the committee. Final budget approval would be made by the Common Council.
Should resources become available, the Committee reserves the right to approve by a majority vote the process of hiring a facility director for the program and any other staff that is deemed necessary and can be funded, with Common Council approval.
The Committee of the Whole will meet at 5:30 p.m. next Tuesday in the Council Chambers of City Hall. Other items on the agenda include ordinances related to mobile food vendors and changes to the off-street parking restrictions in residential areas.