• About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
Friday, January 15, 2021
31 °f
Platte
32 ° Sun
35 ° Mon
34 ° Tue
36 ° Wed
The Platte County Landmark Newspaper
  • Home
  • Local News
  • Opinion
  • Landmark Live!
  • Looking Backward
  • Home
  • Local News
  • Opinion
  • Landmark Live!
  • Looking Backward
No Result
View All Result
The Platte County Landmark Newspaper
No Result
View All Result

Discussion often lively as Platte City plans festival

Kim Fickett by Kim Fickett
February 10, 2005
in Platte City
4
SHARES
90
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare via Email

In what was rumored to be a potential clash of ideas and minds regarding the planning for this fall’s End of the Trail Festival in Platte City, committee members kept the atmosphere fairly calm and low key for much of a meeting last week.

Last Wednesday, committee members met at Platte City City Hall to discuss this year’s two-day event, scheduled for Sept. 9 and 10.

RelatedNews

City to hire out work for curbs, base repair

Firework sales could be booming this year

The end of an era

During a similar planning meeting in November with no media present, Committee Chairman George McClintock and Platte City Mayor Dave Brooks, who serves as the entertainment representative, had a difference in opinions about the direction the festival should take.

According to the November minutes, Brooks was adamant that the name of the festival include a motorcycle name in the title.

With numerous examples discussed including: “Celebrate Platte City,” “Platte City Alive,” “Platte City at 165,” “Platte City Fall Fling,” and “End of the Trail Festival,” the committee agreed on “Platte City End of the Trail Festival” by majority with Brooks voting against the recommendation.

At Wednesday’s meeting, McClintock said, “Platte City End of the Trail Festival is a good fit because it’s actually the end of the summer, the start of school and the start of fall.”

Discussion about the lack of Harley-Davidson’s support for the festival last year was also a source of disagreement at the November planning meeting and that discussion extended into last week’s session.

McClintock stated his disappointment with Harley Davidson for not having a representative at either of the two recent planning meetings.

“It bothers me that they (Harley-Davidson representatives) are not here,” said McClintock. “I feel if it benefits their corporation then they could pull themselves away or at least send their PR people to let us know where they stand.”

Brooks said Harley representatives’ positions at the plant do not allow for them to take off for the meetings.

“They’re not private working people like we are, George. They just can’t walk away from their jobs,” stated Brooks.

Brooks said the plant helped during last year’s festivities by handing out flyers, as well as offering the city the chance to start the parade there.

“I don’t know how much more we can expect them to do for nothing,” said Brooks.

During the meeting, there were also several references to the Platte City event becoming a mini-Sturgis, but with a much cleaner atmosphere.

Committee member Jo Ann Lawson of Unite said, “I think this should be dedicated and focused like a mini-Sturgis.”

McClintock agreed: “That is what it started out as was being the Sturgis of Missouri.”

Platte City’s first rally, held two years ago, was a huge success with the state Harley Owners Group already in the area for its state convention. Last year, with the HOG rally in Springfield, attendance at the Platte City event was down considerably.

In comparison to Sturgis, the committee discussed the idea of involving the surrounding communities of Parkville and Weston in the two-day event, like Sturgis is a 300-mile event involving Deadwood and other towns in that area.

While the discussion of an integrated car/bike show was also a main source of conflict during the November meeting, the committee elected not to combine the two shows for the September festival.

According to the November minutes, Brooks showed great opposition to the mixture of cars and motorcycles at the festival.

“A car show does nothing and I will not support it,” Brooks told the committee in November.

Instead of integrating the two shows in September, the committee announced its intent to continue the bike show at the festival and hold a car show at a later date.

During the meeting, Brooks also announced that he wanted to develop a motorcycle committee within the planning committee to be responsible for working with Harley-Davidson and the motorcycle community.

“The main job of the committee will be to bring motorcycles into Platte City,” said Brooks.

Brooks nominated committee member Billy Knighton to head the motorcycle committee, however McClintock vetoed Brook’s nomination by stating Knighton had enough projects on his plate as co-chairman of the event.

“Well, who’s going to do it then?” questioned Brooks.

McClintock fired right back with the nomination of Lawson as the chair of the motorcycle committee. Brooks said he would help Lawson with the coordination because of his relationship with the staff at Harley-Davidson.

“If we know some things are working well, then let’s don’t try to reinvent the wheel,” said Brooks. “I worked well with them and if we keep changing the committee and the people they are working with, and keep pushing them, they are going to tell us to leave them alone.”

McClintock identified his reason for the need of the committee.

“We’re forming a cycle committee and we need to know who we can coordinate with over there in management,” said McClintock.

Brooks emphasized he feels that a flyer needs to be developed immediately.

“We need a flyer. It doesn’t need to list the events but it does have to be well done and have some sex appeal and some zing to it,” said Brooks.

He also outlined the fact of the need to “start knocking on doors.”

“I think we need to go after vendors and after people who are going to bring the motorcycle people to Platte City,” stated Brooks.

The committee stated the city has budgeted $10,000 for this year’s event, but is hopeful they can get some sponsors.

“The city has budgeted $10,000 for the event but hopefully we won’t have to jump through hoops to get the funding,” said Brooks.

Brooks reported that last year’s End of the Trail Rally cost $12,000.

Tags: Frank Offuttparkvilleplatte cityplatte countyweston
Kim Fickett

Kim Fickett

Related Posts

45 Years Ago–January 16, 1976

by Ivan Foley
January 14, 2021
0

Mr. and Mrs. Michael McGinness, of Platte City, announce the birth of their daughter, Marcie Gayle McGinness, at North Kansas City Memorial Hospital. The grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Taylor and Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. McGinness of Lathrop,...

30 Years Ago–January 18, 1991

by Ivan Foley
January 14, 2021
0

Alma M. Hubble has been named as nursing manager for the Obstetrics Department of Spelman Memorial Hospital in Smithville. She and her family recently relocated to the Platte City area from Springfield. An expected seven percent decrease in revenue from...

15 Years Ago–January 12, 2006

by Ivan Foley
January 14, 2021
0

The message is clear. Annexation is a priority for the Platte City Board of Alderman. As part of that message delivered at their regular meeting on Tuesday evening, three points were clarified by board members. They are interested in annexing...

The Big Lie

Sometimes the big lie gets used as a political strategy

by Ivan Foley
January 14, 2021
0

Looks like Nan Johnston should just set an annual appointment time with an investigator from the Missouri Ethics Commission. Landmark Live will be a magical time when we come back to life for a show Thursday, Jan. 14 at 6...

Next Post

Parkville city hall, age 10, has already become crowded

Popular News

  • Carlotta E. Palmer

    A $20 drug deal goes horribly wrong

    53 shares
    Share 21 Tweet 13
  • State ethics board investigating Parkville mayor

    26 shares
    Share 10 Tweet 7
  • Court upholds suspension of area doctor’s license

    24 shares
    Share 10 Tweet 6
  • Love Notes From Nan – Investigation Edition

    85 shares
    Share 60 Tweet 10
  • Three want spot with health department

    10 shares
    Share 4 Tweet 3
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
Call us at 816-858-0363

Copyright © 2019-2020 The Platte County Landmark Newspaper - All Rights Reserved

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Subscribe Online
  • Local News
  • Opinion
  • Landmark Live!
  • Looking Backward

Copyright © 2019-2020 The Platte County Landmark Newspaper - All Rights Reserved