Uncertainty still surrounds harvest fest planned for later this month in Lind

A major deadline has passed for the Adams County Harvest Festival and uncertainty remains. For now, the Lind Town Council has agreed to give Diane Kennedy more time to obtain some licenses and permits required for the event to take place. The festival is scheduled for Aug. 24.

On June 25, Kennedy, the organizer of the festival told the members of the Lind Town Council that she was waiting on them before proceeding with arraignments. The council wanted to see a liquor license, Department of Transportation permits and proof of insurance.The proof of insurance was a major concern for the council. Kennedy said at the time it was all ready to go.

“I’m waiting on you all,” Kennedy said. “I can’t do anything until I have your approval. The insurance is all ready to go, but I need your approval.”

The council gave approval that day on the condition that the insurance, permits and licenses were all secured before the council’s July 23 meeting. Kennedy said that was “no problem” and that she’d get started right away. On July 23, she showed up to the meeting without any of the listed requirements.

“I’m asking you to back off and let things happen as they happen,” Kennedy said at the July 23 meeting. “No. 1, you asked for insurance. The insurance is $390. If for some reason I don’t get my liquor license, I only get $120 back. I’m not going to lose that much money. The DOT is waiting on the insurance, the insurance is waiting on the liquor license and the liquor license takes 45 days to 60 days … Let this happen as it’s going to happen”

Councilwoman Myra Horton suggested that Kennedy should have started sooner.

“I know that,” Kennedy said. “[Mayor] Paula [Bell] and I discussed that and that’s what I’m going to do next year … I’m not denying that I’m running behind. I’m just asking that you work with me.”

Councilwoman Kathy Vedder asked about what had changed since the June 25 meeting.

“At the last meeting you were at, you said you had all this in place,” Vedder said. “You were just waiting for our approval to get that all.”

“It is in place,” Kennedy interrupted.

“You made it sound like all you had to do was have us say, ‘go ahead and do it,’ and then you could present it to us,” Vedder said.

“OK, I spoke wrong,” Kennedy answered.

The council suggested removing the need of a liquor license by not having alcohol at the event and mentioned that Spokane doesn’t allow alcohol at its New Year’s Day celebration.

“Well, this year I have alcohol,” Kennedy replied. “So will you please just work with me this year? Just so I can get this done? If you don’t want it next year I won’t do it. But I have too much invested in this so I need you to just approve it.”

“We have approved you, you just haven’t showed your end of the paperwork to us,” Vedder replied.

The turning point of the meeting occurred when Vedder said, “I don’t think any of us want you to not have it,” to which the rest of the council nodded in agreement.

“Lots of people are looking forward to it,” Councilman Richard Baldwin said.

There is one council meeting remaining, on Aug. 13, before the event on Aug. 24. Baldwin asked if Kennedy could bring in everything by then, but Kennedy said she wasn’t sure.

Baldwin suggested that she return on Aug. 13 with an update, and that the council could decide what to do from there. The council agreed. Kennedy said that as things developed, she would let Bell know.