Mayor Alan Peoples and councilman George Baker also expressed concern over some of the new wording that says any changes to the contract must be agreed upon by all parties.
Peoples said he doesn’t like that the town could want something different one year, such as more money, and the chamber wouldn’t have to agree.
But mayor pro-tem Roy Miller said the barbecue festival is well established and the town needs to think of itself as having a partnership with the chamber and lock in an agreement for three years.
“This is an established festival,” Miller said. “I think the town should get back in the mindset as a partnership with the chamber. Let’s not be on opposite sides of the fence.”
Chamber officials approached Harmon Field and the town in March with the tiered system. Previously, the chamber paid Harmon Field 50 cents per admission ticket. The new contract also has the chamber reimbursing the town for employee work, such as Harmon Field employees, police and other public works employees, as well as reimbursements for utilities such as power.
Last year’s festival drew approximately 9,000 spectators through the admission gates, which if the town had been using the new tiered payment system would have meant approximately $1,500 less in fees.
This year’s festival will be held June 8 and 9 at Harmon Field.