Hunt for Heros train accident
(File Photo) The semi trailer carrying veterans in a parade was struck by a train crossing Garfield Thursday evening in the annual Hunt for Hero’s parade. Tim FischerReporter-Telegram
Posted: Tuesday, February 26, 2013 7:31 pm
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Updated: 7:51 pm, Tue Feb 26, 2013.
Midland Reporter-Telegram
What began as an approval for the city to sponsor an annual running event became a discussion among City Council members Tuesday about insurance requirements for special events.
District 1 representative Jeff Sparks started the conversation by asking City Attorney Keith Stretcher what it means for the city of Midland to sponsor an event.
Stretcher said it means the city will waive application fees, or in the case of the annual United Blood Services Bloodgusher Run, it will waive the rental fee for the Scharbauer Sports Complex.
But before he gave that answer, Stretcher clarified that there are two requirements all special-event permit applicants must meet, regardless if they want fees waived. The first is that groups must complete the application for the permit; the second is that they must possess an insurance policy that covers organizers and the city of Midland.
The parade permit ordinance was revised last month in the aftermath of the Nov. 15 train and parade float crash.
The Show of Support parade is listed as one of 13 scheduled events in the city’s special event insurance policy for 2012, according to the insurance policy documents obtained through a public information act request.
During the Tuesday council meeting, Stretcher read off the list of 13 events for the 2013 special event policy. The list included Show of Support and other events that were also on the 2012 policy. The city may waive the fees for these listed events. Next month the council will consider a resolution about the waiver, he said.
Even though the council may waive the organizations’ fees, Stretcher said the groups still have to do everything else, including obtaining insurance.
“We’ll be double-insured on these events,” Stretcher said.
The city’s special events policy covers “everything” involved with it, including covering both the city and the organization, said Sara Higgins, the city’s public information officer. Therefore, the special events will be “double insured” as well, as long as the organizers obtain their own insurance and are listed in the city’s special events policy.
“If one of the groups hosting a special event is covered by the city’s special event policy, they may go before City Council and request to waive their need for their own insurance,” Higgins said. “But at this point, all applicants need insurance.”
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Tuesday, February 26, 2013 7:31 pm.
Updated: 7:51 pm.
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