Des Plaines Alderman Dick Sayad changes vote on summer fest operator
Des Plaines 4th Ward Alderman Dick Sayad has changed his vote on hiring an outside firm to manage the city's downtown summer festival, but his switch will not kill the plan.
Sayad asked at Monday's city council meeting that his Jan. 20 vote to approve an agreement with Chicago-based Ravenswood Event Services Inc. be reconsidered.
He said he was concerned with statements made by Ravenswood owner Ralph Concepcion, reported by newspapers, that the festival likely wouldn't turn a profit this summer. Sayad also favors the festival running three days instead of two, in case inclement weather affects turnout and how much revenue the fest collects.
"I just felt afterwards it's something we should've reconsidered or made a little better contract," Sayad said.
Mayor Matt Bogusz said Concepcion made those statements at the Jan. 20 council meeting before Sayad and five other aldermen voted to approve Ravenswood's contract in an amount not to exceed $20,000. The city contracted with Chicago-based Special Events Management to operate and manage the festival the last four years.
"He was very honest I thought," Bogusz said of Concepcion. "Since we've had the Summer Fling, the event has not made money for the vendor. This vendor is coming forward saying he's looking to invest in our event, to build it to a place where it will make money."
Bogusz said having the fest on Sundays wouldn't be profitable because "beer sales (on Friday and Saturday nights) make the cash."
"I would much rather have a vendor be honest and very forthright with his intentions than to make an investment on Sunday when it's not going to pay back," Bogusz said.
Sayad joins Aldermen Jim Brookman and Jack Robinson, who voted against the contract Jan. 20, in opposing the deal.
The festival is scheduled for June 12-13.