Bland alderman requests permission to host summer shindig as fund-raiser for replacing park amphitheater

By Roxie Murphy, Staff Writer
Posted 5/12/21

BLAND — Alderman Ned Steiner informed fellow Bland Board of Aldermen members on Monday night that he has reached out to local musicians and entertainers about having a “shindig” at …

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Bland alderman requests permission to host summer shindig as fund-raiser for replacing park amphitheater

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BLAND — Alderman Ned Steiner informed fellow Bland Board of Aldermen members on Monday night that he has reached out to local musicians and entertainers about having a “shindig” at the Bland City Park to raise money to rebuild the amphitheater.

“July 24 I want to have a deal at the park with local musicians in the area — all have volunteered their time — to set up on the old amphitheater. All the money raised during the event, and the gate charge, will go towards rebuilding the amphitheater.”

Steiner said he has reached out to bands he used to play in and others from the younger generations. It has garnered enough attention that people have begun to seek him out and ask him questions.

“I’d also like Killin’ Time Bar to set up and do a beer garden,” Steiner said, while arguing that it would benefit the cause for the people it would bring in. “No one has contacted me about food or concessions yet.”

Steiner said he would like to keep all the “drinkers” inside the ropes of the beer garden so the city would not have to purchase liability insurance for the day. He added that Killin’ Time Bar already has insurance and a license in the city of Bland, so he wouldn’t think they would have to purchase anything else.

“This is at absolutely no cost to the city, since all entertainment and events are being donated,” he added.

City Clerk Carrie Krupp suggested that they speak with neighboring park boards about the beer garden to make sure they do it right. She also suggested they ask their local police force, who were present at the meeting, what they thought of the event.

Police Chief Dwayne Goodridge laughed and said they could be available that weekend and have an officer from Gasconade County assist them.

“My big concern is parking,” Alderman Jane Vandegriffe said. “We would need to talk to the Christian Church about using their parking lot.”

Steiner said they used to have 5,000 or more visitors during their tractor pull events. He would even suggest doing a side-by-side event and having a large mud hole that participants pay to run through.

“All I need is the board’s permission to make it a go,” Steiner said.

Acting Park Board President Leslie Cronin was present at the meeting and gave her input.

“I think it is a great idea and the park board would support it,” Cronin said. “The bigger the event, the bigger, badder the amphitheater.”

Steiner held up pictures he had of what he hoped the completed amphitheater would look like.

“I asked a contractor to draw this up and give us a rough estimate to see how much we would need to raise,” Steiner explained.

According to the estimate from Gehlert Construction, materials, tin and lumber would be around $14,500; labor would cost around $5,000; a rough-sawed lumber option estimate would be about $4,200; for a total cost around $19,700.

“Of course that was at the beginning of the year,” Steiner said. “Materials have tripled since then. But if we have a cover charge of $10 to $15 a head, I think we could pull this off.”

Alderman Mark Farran didn't think the event needed the board’s approval.

“That would require planning with the park board and Carrie looking into the beer garden license,” Farran said. “I don’t think we need to vote.”

The board agreed they are excited about the event that will fall on the open Saturday between the Belle Fair and Gasconade County Fair in Owensville. No further action was taken.