COBDEN — A bride-to-be has to answer a few questions before she can have her day her way at Cobden Park.
Angie Schwerdtfeger sent a letter to Whitewater Region Township council asking permission to erect a tent at the park for her July 11 wedding.
She is getting married in the park and decided a tent might be a good idea if the weather turns sour. She’s expecting less than 30 people to attend.
During last night`s council meeting, Chief Administrative Officer Christine FitzSimons said the bride and groom must purchase a special event liability policy and name the township as an insurer.
Councillor Chris Olmstead questioned whether a liquor licence needs to be purchased and if so, who would be liable.
CAO FitzSimons said she didn`t know if liquor would be available, and if not, then it`s not an issue.
Councillor Daryl McLaughlin questioned if the bride planned on getting locates of underground wires and pipes prior to pounding stakes into the ground.
Public works manager Bill Misener said that has to be done.
“People are putting them in near gas lines,” he said. “The tent people should get the locates.”
It was suggested Ms. Schwerdtfeger be provided with the phone numbers the township uses when it needs locates.
Coun. McLaughlin believes this is the first time someone has asked to erect a tent for a wedding. Each year council has given approval for a gospel tent to be erected in Cobden Park, but never a tent for an individual, he explained.
He hesitates to give approval, because it might start something.
“How many more requests like this are we going to get,” he questioned.
It’s at the height of tourist season — will it block an area where people should be camping but can’t, he questioned.
However, CAO FitzSimons suggested it be looked at as an economic boost to the area.
“Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have a beautiful wedding in our park every weekend if it doesn’t inconvenience people,” she said.
Coun. McLaughlin said if it doesn’t take up too much room or inconvenience others, he wouldn’t have a problem with it.
He wanted the request tabled until more information could be gathered.
However, CAO FitzSimons didn’t think that would be a good idea, because there’s not another council meeting until the third week of March and the bride would most likely prefer an answer as soon as possible.
She suggested council pass a motion agreeing to the erection of a tent, as long as all of council’s questions and concerns are answered to her satisfaction.
“I’ll alert you if I find anything in my investigation that is troublesome,” she said.
She further suggested a policy be created in case there’s another request in the future.
