Members of Elliot Lake City Council held out the carrot again in front of music promoter Corey McKenzie's face at Monday night's city council meeting, but refused their full approval for his planned summer heavy metal music show.
Although council members voiced verbal support for the event, they told him they still had concerns about several aspects of his planned Atomic Music Fest 2019, tentatively set for Aug. 9 through 11.
McKenzie outlined his plans for security, insurance, staging, sanitation, insurance, food services, ticket sales and other requisites for the show, which will feature 16 acts in three sets. Four bands are set to perform on an outdoor stage Friday, Aug. 9, nine bands will perform on Saturday, Aug. 10 and three other groups will hit the stage on Sunday, Aug. 11.
Several council members noted that because the entertainment is set for the city-owned Mount Dufour Ski Hill, they need to be extra cautious about all arrangements and guarantees that are made.
Concerns that arose at Monday night's council meeting included safety issues and facilities for tent campers and RVs which McKenzie had planned to locate in two areas at the ski hill. Council was also concerned about allowing people camping at the site to consume alcohol there. They also insisted the show increase liability insurance from $1 million to $5 million, along with making arrangements for camping and RV accommodation at another site with bus shuttles provided to accommodate their arrival and departure to and from Mount Dufour and other areas where parking is more plentiful.
McKenzie promised to comply with all of Council's remaining concerns and will return with final written submissions covering those concerns at a special council meeting scheduled just before the coming long weekend, on Friday, June 28.
For his part, McKenzie is asking council to declare AstroRabbit Entertainment's heavy metal music festival a municipally significant event. That designation would smooth the way for full alcohol sales and serving approval by AGCO, for the three-day show. That also is being held back, to be looked at again during Friday's special council meeting.
McKenzie told five of six councillors and Mayor Dan Marchisella that as soon as his alarm goes off on Tuesday morning, he would be up and working to fulfil all of Elliot Lake's demands. The sixth member, Councillor Chris Patrie, was in the City Council chamber Monday night, but excused himself from taking part in the debate.