Church wants concert in city parking lot

Bonners Ferry City Council will decide whether to allow Mountain Springs Church to hold a concert in the city parking lot or to keep the event at Boundary County Fairgrounds.

Church representative Jason Steffen approached the city council last Tuesday to request the change.

Council members voiced concerns about having  nearly 2,000 people in the city parking lot on a Saturday and how it may affect parking, safety and businesses.

 The free concert and summer event will be held on Aug. 6.

Bonners Ferry Mayor Dave Anderson brought up the fact that there is not a lot of parking  downtown particularly for that many people. Two years ago the church sponsored headliner Ricky Skaggs and the concert was held at the  fairgrounds with more than 1,800 people attending the event, said Steffen.

“We several bands we are talking to but haven’t signed anyone yet but we are expecting another headliner,” Steffen said.

Steffen said people can park at the fairgrounds and typically people don’t mind walking in the summer.  He said arrangements for a shuttle can be made to transport the elderly or young children from the fairgrounds to the city parking lot. 

Steffen said they are expecting six to seven food vendors and booths on the west end of the lot and there will be no seating other than what is already in place at businesses facing the lot. They will also have a kids section set up at the west end of the lot.

“The drivers will be drawn to the area that otherwise wouldn’t see the event if it were at the fairgrounds,” said Steffen.

He said it will be beneficial not only to the church but to downtown business.

City councilwoman Connie Wells thought the concert would be much better suited for the fairgrounds if they are expecting that large of a crowd.

“There is plenty of room and space for people to spread out,” she said.”  “Since there wont be seating will people want to stand for several hours.”

Bonners Ferry Chief of Police Rick Alonzo was concerned about shrubbery and landscaping in areas of the businesses facing the parking lot. Steffen said the church would be involved in rectifying any damages that might occur as a result of the event.

The Farmer’s Market will still be occupying the city parking lot on Saturdays.  Steffen said it would not be a conflict. He said they plan on having two shows on that day  — one for children in the afternoon and a main event in the evening between 6 and 8:30 p.m.

The Farmer’s Market is set up on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Steffen said that they would have to prepare the stage the night before but assured that this would not be in the way of the Farmer’s Market’s parking or normal business routine.

As far as the limited space, Steffen said no problem. The members of the church did the math and there should be more than enough space for people to roam.

Anderson and councilman Chris Clark both suggested the next step Steffen should take is to talk to the Farmer’s Market and business facing the parking lot to see what they think about the idea. 

 Barb Hansen treasurer of the Farmer’s Market said the first time she heard about this idea was at the council meeting.  As of Tuesday, Hansen had not heard anything from Steffen or Mountain Springs Church but would like to talk to them about the logistics.

Steffen said the show will go on at the fairgrounds if the city does not approve the request. He said location will not effect who performs for the event.

Clark said he guarantees Steffen will have an answer at the next city council meeting.

Council meets again at 7 p.m., on Tuesday May, 3, in city hall.