Plain City Council approved all three requests submitted for this year’s Community Grant Program.
During their most recent meeting, council members voted to award a grant to the Miami Valley Steam Threshers Association and two grants to the Plain City Music, Arts and Theater Society.
The village sets aside a portion of its yearly budget for which organizations can apply for up to $5,000 in grant funding to support local events, either through a grant payment or forgiveness of costs incurred.
Village Administrator Haley Lupton said the village received three applications during the submission period from Jan. 1 through April 30.
The first of which, submitted by Director Anne Weeks on behalf of the Miami Valley Steam Threshers Association, requested $5,000 to be used for park rental fees, marketing, printing show books and security costs.
Lupton noted that the Steam Threshers also received the maximum grant amount allowed, $5,000, last year.
She recommended waiving the park rental fee, which would total approximately $3,000, as opposed to issuing grant funding in the full amount.
Parks and Recreation Director Linda Granger noted that the Steam Threshers receive all Pastime Park Campground revenue generated during the week of the show.
She said it totals around $6,000, including the fees generated by long-term campers, who pay directly to MVSTA during that week of their stay.
Council member Jim Eudaily said he and his family are avid supporters of the show and he certainly feels a grant should be awarded.
“They bring so much into the community,” he said.
However, given that the village diverts camping fees to the organization, he said he feels waiving the park fees is sufficient.
Council member Aaron Lewis said ensuring the organization does not pay park rental fees is a “no brainer,” but thinks the village should go a step further. He recommended adding $2,000 in grant funding to the fee waiver.
Council member James Sintz said he feels either option is “fair,” but prefers just waiving the park fee. Fellow members Kerri Ferguson and Tyler Harriman agreed.
Council voted 4-1 to award a community grant to the Steam Threshers in the form of waived park fees, with Lewis dissenting. Council President Michael Terry was absent.
The annual Steam Threshers show, which has been held at Pastime Park for the past 36 years, will be July 18, 19, 20 and 21 and will feature John Deere tractors.
The other two grant requests came from the same organization, Plain City Music, Arts and Theater Society (PCMATS), a new nonprofit in the village.
Daniel Rodriguez Hijo applied for $3,000 to support the production of “The Path of the Pioneer,” a play depicting Jonathan Alder that will be hosted at Buckeye Brass and Winds on Aug. 15-17.
According to Hijo’s application, the $3,000 grant would “be used to help purchase materials for building period-accurate costumes with patterns and help from the Plain City Historical Society.
“It will also help cover costs for reproduction attire we cannot build to present the most accurate representation of Jonathan Alder yet in both his pioneer and Native American attire.”
Hijo also applied for $1,000 to pay for rehearsal space for another play, “Once Upon a Mattress.”
The funding would cover the cost to rent the Pastime Park Youth Building for choreography rehearsals of the play on five separate evenings throughout the summer.
Mayor Jody Carney said she feels both grants to the PCMATS are ideal uses of the community grant funding.
“I think that’s a great use of resources,” she said.
Carney noted that both officials and community members have worked over the past several years to increase opportunities to highlight the arts in the village and she feels PCMATS is continuing that mission.
She added that students interested in the performing arts often go to Marysville or London to participate in performances, so she is appreciative that PCMATS is offering opportunities to do so in the village.
Likewise, Eudaily said he has known Rodriguez Hijo for years through his involvement in the local arts community.
As a high school senior, Rodriguez Hijo helped with the production of middle school plays, Eudaily said.
Council voted 5-0 to approve the $3,000 grant and 4-0 to approve waiving the Youth Building rental fee. Eudaily abstained from the second vote, as he said his son is participating in that play.