It was standing room only at the Solon Township Hall in Cedar Friday night as the community gathered to battle over a fee that jeopardized the Cedar Polka Festival, scheduled for Aug. 22-25.
Ultimately, a unique motion resulted in letting the festival proceed in 2024. However, negotiations over the festival’s fee of $1 will be discussed immediately for future years between the Cedar Polka Fest Foundation, a non-profit arm of the Cedar Area Chamber of Commerce, and Solon Township for the use of the park.
“It was the correct decision. None of us are opposed to paying a fee,” said Lisa Rosi-Brett, executive director of the Polka Fest Foundation. “That’s not the issue at hand here. We use it. We’re happy to pay for it. But the timing was the problem. You can’t impose something like this 60 days in advance of the event.”
Solon Township Clerk Shirley Mikowski, Supervisor James Lautner, Treasurer Joan Gauthier, and trustees Steve Yoder and Pat Deering sat facing the room as 80-100 people listened intently and spoke vigorously about their various viewpoints for over an hour.
Yoder tried to make a motion only a few minutes after public comment ended for seemingly the result presented, but was interrupted by Lautner and Mikowski, who berated Yoder before making the same motion merely moments later.
“It’s too late in the game. They got sponsors they are waiting on ... We are delaying the game as a board,” Yoder said after being interrupted when making a motion. “I have no problem with a fee. This process should have happened in the winter.”
The exchange stemmed from arguments during a previous June meeting on the contentious topic. Public comment featured plenty of strong opinions and call-outs from all sides of the smalltown issue.
“You should have to pay rent,” Cedar resident Cathleen Koch said.
A lot of the talk covered much-needed repairs to the park without funding available along with arguments of how the Polka Fest either helps or hurts the community. The crowd arguably sway 60-40 in favor of the Polka Fest.
Pam Novak, president of the Cedar Chamber of Commerce, said the profits from the celebration have been put back into the community in various forms.
“We hear from the board that ‘you don’t do anything for the township anymore,’” Novak said.
The Cedar Community Park has been Polka Central, using tennis courts and athletic fields, for more than 40 years.
The Polka Fest has been held for nearly four decades without substantial changes. However, in recent years, the four-day event has been revitalized with the addition of more activities, such as a 5K run, a classic car and motorcycle show, and a pancake breakfast. New this year, the Fest is scheduled to include the Ultimate Air Dogs competition, featuring pooljumping “dog athletes” and their owner/trainers competing for advancement in the regional competition.
