Rum Runner Days (The real numbers)

Well it seems only like yesterday that the Thunder in the Valley event was deferred.
The issues being the safety of the public all those unruly characters coming to our town filling the jails and costs, numbers were thrown around like confetti at a wedding, $100,000, $150,000 with every new number being larger than the last.
I wish I had a copy of the editorial from the Pass Herald written by Lisa Sygutek it was very well written and spoke about how inflated the numbers were to justify the cancellation of Thunder in the Valley, she was right.  
Never the less the decision was made to proceed with the Rum Runner weekend and bring in new events, family orientated (Wine and cheese festival) vendors, bands for the evening remember the Rum Runner Days flyer that we received with our utility bills (expecting 20,000 plus people).  So the security was all in place for the influx of people finally after years of not knowing what this weekend cost the taxpayers we would have certainty of financial information.
So in March I asked Councillor Saindon for his committee's budget which he was kind enough to share with me it appeared the weekend was projected to actually make money. Revenue's of $160,500 with expenditure's of only $151,720 well finally last night three and a half months after the event Council was provided a financial breakdown of the weekend.  

Revenues projected at $160,500 actually turned out to be $45,452.
Expenses projected at $151,720 actually turned out to be $89,456.

Remember all the big numbers for RCMP/Security/Peace Officers at one point the number of $60-70,000 was being thrown around then with the committee budget it was dropped to $35,000 actually ended up being $18,017.
On the issue of unlawful behaviour we had 5 less people in jail this year than last.

Note: When Councillor Saindon presented his report last night he spoke with great emotion about the difficult time his wife went through with personal medical problems, and the stress of what she was required to do to put on the Rum Runner Days weekend. That I have a lot of understanding for I know what it's like to be in the centre of the Crowsnest Pass political world when you are having to deal with a family crisis.

What I did not like was when he criticized all the people that choose not to participate in the weekend either as a volunteer or participant, and the criticism of people and groups not willing to change, to make Rum Runner Days into what council's vision of it should be. Just maybe on this weekend the silent majority disagreed with council.  

Municipality of Crowsnest Pass-Thunder in the Valley (More Confusion)

Here is the Press Release from March 7 regarding Thunder in the Valley pay special attention to the first sentence.


March 7, 2012


Municipality of Crowsnest Pass

PRESS RELEASE

"After extensive deliberation with respect to public safety and finances, the Council of
the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass has resolved to defer the Thunder in the Valley
component of Rum Runner Days festival. The suspension will be in effect for this
current year and remain in place until such time that an appropriate emergency operational plan, traffic plan as well as the requirements and changes identified by the Rum Runners Event Committee are accomplished"

So like most people I got my town bill yesterday after reading the fascinating write up on Riparian Area Health, I proceed to the Rum Runner Days pamphlet where under Vendor Information I see the following "It is anticipated over 20,000 people will attend the celebrations".

Well that statement blew my socks over, maybe it's a typo maybe it should have read 2,000 or maybe the committee is just being overly optimistic. But let's say they are right then what does the press release from March 7, really mean? What happened to all the previous concerns wasn't the issue all these people coming to the Crowsnest Pass, and all the related issues that come with a crowd of that size. Is the RCMP now guaranteeing the safety, if a crowd of that size comes won't the costs be the same will we need less toilets? less traffic control? less policing? just because there are no fireworks. Is the appropriate emergency operational plan, and the traffic plan now in place? if they are, then couldn't Thunder in the Valley have just gone ahead?

I think we have been had, in a few short months we went from we can't do this event because there are too many safety and financial concerns attached to a crowd of 20-30,000 people, to we can now do this event which will attract more than 20,000 people????