Jeff Dankert
Staff Writer
Peru City Council on Monday approved an agreement between the city and Merry Noonan, organizer of local Concerts for a Cause, to use Illinois Valley Regional Airportfor live music shows.
It requires Noonan to carry liability insurance of $1 million per event and pay all costs of utilities and cleanup after the concerts. Within 14 days after each show, Noonan must pay into the city ofPeruairport fund 50 cents for each ticket sold and not less than $2,500.
The agreement is subject to approval of Illinois Department of Transportation Division of Aeronautics. Last fall the city and Noonan learned that fundraisers such as Concerts for a Cause must devote money to the airport, because the airport receives regular government funding for maintenance and improvements.
The agreement also includes a map showing where concert operations and parking are allowed.
Noonan, co-owner of Lou’s LaGrotto inPeruand who has organized successful Concerts for a Cause since 2005, booked Kid Rock to play the airport July 13. Tickets are expected to go on sale this month for $58. The concerts have raised thousands of dollars for charitable causes such as schools.
Our city attorney did not dispute anything regarding this agreement at the city council meeting nor did anyone else.
It seems that since the concert is on city property, more questions should have been asked. While attendees may eat and stay in the area, I can imagine a strong police presence will need to be available outside the venue itself because so many people will be in town. Who pays for the ambulance to be in attendance during the performance? Is the insurance enough to cover an "incident" and does Peru have additional insurance if there is a problem. We can only hope that the "cause" will be something that benefits Peru and not another outside entity.
5 comments:
I would like to know, what charity is getting the money this year? Also, I don't feel 50 cents per ticket is not enough to go to the city. How much is Merry getting for doing this? And don''t tell me she doesn't make anything, because I'm not that stupid. What percentage does she get????
What bothers me is none of our council members (including the mayor) never asked more questions before aproving such a thing. I think money from fund raising events at airport can only be for airport or we could lose federal funding for airport, unless thats what the mayor wants is to kill the airport like he did the pool.
I would hope the city lawyer would get more involid . Seem to me she lost last place because she wouldn't pay for damages . Good luck to city of Peru .
Go to other title of blog, concert for a cause. No FAA approval yet and you will be able to read blogs where event, etc... Is discussed.
the city of Peru pays for all the added police coverage and fire personell to do parking and crowd control ALL the money should go to Peru Pool . What if my house catchess fire when our trained firefighters are sitting at the airport with the firetruck engines running using their spot lights to do crowd control ? What if my business is robbed because all our police are dealing with drunk kids and adults at the concert ? This is a crock of crap . She should have to hire a private security company instead of using our tax dollars to raise money to build her house or for a charity outside of Peru . Why do our alderman/woman sit on their hands and not protect our town ? We know why the Mayor does nothing , because he is nothing !
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