Ashland council, Pioneer Tunnel discuss possibility of wineries at Pioneer Day
ASHLAND – The general manager at the Pioneer Tunnel asked borough council Wednesday night about the possibility of inviting wineries to participate in Pioneer Day activities.
Lorenda Kutz, manager at the tourist attraction, raised the idea during the first public portion of the meeting.
She said she wanted to clear it with the borough before extending invitiation.
Legal and liability concerns were raised, especially since Ashland borough owns the land.
Solicitor Jack Price said that both the borough and Pioneer Tunnel should check with their insurance companies and Price also said he wanted to look into borough ordinances.
Kutz said her insurance does cover such events, and Price asked her to provide the carrier and confirmation of that.
“That is a fantastic event that you’d like to have,” Councilman Barry Spieles said to Kutz. “The problem is, we let one do that, then another group wants to come in [and do that].”
“Past practice, in 1998 when we had the county convention, we had it in the football field. We came to council a year in advance. Council gave us permission to have our beer tent followed by the LCB rules which was a closed-in cubicle within the football field,” Fire Chief Phil Groody said. “A one day special event license, and we provided an extra certificate of insurance.”
Price reminded council that such precedent is not binding and that they can judge every application by its own merits.
Price said the next step would be for him to look over the borough’s ordinance and Pioneer Tunnel’s insurance.
In other business, council discussed a request by the Rader family to vacate a paper alley behind Hoffman Boulevard.
The alley bi-sects their property where they are looking to build a house. That matter was tabled for further inquiry by the solicitor.
Council also approved:
- a benefits management agreement;
- the schedule of events at Higher Ups Park for Pioneer Tunnel as follows
- 3/30 – Easter Egg Hunt;
- 6/1 – Outdoor Market;
- 7/20 – Pioneer Day;
- 10/27 – Trick-Or-Treat Bash
- 11/23, 24, 25, 29, 30, 12/1, 12/6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15 – Christmas Train
- Ashland Little League’s opening day parade on April 6 and the fire and police department’s participation in it and any special parades for Little League achievements;
- the hiring of Jim Patterson as a part-time police officer;
- auto detailing for a police patrol car.
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