The Chadron City Council Monday night liked the idea of a weekly downtown summer concert series, but not enough to support funding it through the city’s LB-840 economic development sales tax.

The Chadron Chamber of Commerce had asked for a nearly $15,000 grant to hire Annie Creek Events of Spearfish to manage, organize, and promote the series with sponsorships to cover the costs of the actual entertainment.

Annie Creek was formed by two Spearfish business owners after helping as volunteers to create a similar entertainment series in Spearfish.

The company now manages the Spearfish series along with ones in Rapid City and Belle Fourche. CEO Scott Temple told the council that last year’s final show in Spearfish drew about 5,000 people downtown, and that he thought a Chadron series would probably draw 400-600 in its first year.

All 5 council members expressed strong support for the overall concept, but some objected to using taxpayer money while others didn’t feel there was enough time to organize a series this year. The upcoming Main Street storm sewer project was cited by both supporters and skeptics.

City Manager Wayne Anderson was disappointed but not discouraged by the 4-1 vote, which had downtown businessman Paris Fisher cast the lone vote for the grant.

Anderson sees the entertainment series concept as one that can be a big shot-in-the-arm for efforts to give Chadron a more vital downtown.

Anderson echoed an email sent to the city council by businessman and LB-840 advisory committee member Morie Carnahan…who said he felt Chadron is “at a tipping point” with residents needing to change their attitude from complacency to progressiveness.

Councilman Dr John Gamby, one of those philosophically opposed to the grant, said he liked the basic idea so much that he would help raise private funds for it. Anderson hopes Gamby and others will be able to raise enough money to go ahead this summer.

The proposed schedule called for the weekly events to run June 19 through July 24. Chamber of Commerce executive director Collette Fernandez hopes to find enough other funding to go ahead this summer, but says the schedule might change.