When thousands of people dress up and flock to a closed-off Court Street for the annual Halloween street party, the city of Athens spends tens of thousands of dollars on extra police and other expenses.
On Monday, Athens City Council might decide to suspend a rule requiring that ordinances be put through three readings before being approved. If the rule is suspended, the council will then have the option to hire a paid event planner for the Halloween party.
Some council members said that an event planner would organize the Halloween festivities and pursue sponsorships and donations to help pay for the event's costs.
It would provide a little income instead of just outcome for the city
said Councilman Jim Sands, D-at large.
The city spent about $86,000 for the 2006 Halloween street festival. Approximately $28,000 went toward about 100 police officers from the Athens Police Department, the Ohio University Police Department and surrounding cities' departments, said service-safety director Ray Hazlett.
The city recouperated about $16,000 from parking fees, code enforcement citations, vendor fees and licenses and the Athens Transit fares, which provides transportation to Court Street from the Athens County Fairgrounds, where some partygoers park their cars.
Typically 10,000 to 20,000 people or more attend the Halloween street party, depending on the weather, said Paige Alost, executive director of the Athens County Convention and Visitors Bureau. Last year, she estimated that between 13,000 and 14,000 people attended.
Although the city closes the street, pays for the extra cops and distributes licenses, it does not organize the festival.
The Athens Clean and Safe Halloween Committee sets up and takes down stages, helps with security, and books about 12 bands to play on two stages on Court Street, Alost said. The bands are typically local and play for free.
The committee, which has existed for about 25 years, has a core group of 30 to 40 volunteers.
Fifteen to 20 sponsors donate about $4,000 in cash and merchandise to provide giveaways and to pay for the stages and equipment, said Jonathan Holmberg, chairman of the committee. Uptown Dog T-Shirts, 10 W. Union St., is one of the primary sponsors, supplying T-shirts for volunteers and band members, he said.
This year, the committee might sell wristbands for access to VIP areas and other events, including a haunted house to help with city costs, Holmberg said. 17
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Christa Gould
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