Haliburton County Farmers Market (HCFM) executives say they may be forced to cancel the Haliburton market this year after labelling terms outlined by Dysart et al council for the event’s return to Head Lake Park “unreasonable and unrealistic.”
Volunteer board members Mike Townsend and Brian Nash met with The Highlander this week to respond to a list of demands made by Dysart officials at a Dec. 12 council meeting, chiefly the introduction of a monthly fee to use the park on Tuesdays during the spring and summer.
It was suggested by mayor Murray Fearrey, and supported by the rest of council, that a $1,000 monthly fee be applied to the market covering events in July, August and September, with a $700 fee applied for any other month.
“Very simply, it’s a no – we just don’t have the money to be able to do that,” Townsend said.
He shared a ledger showing the market’s financials from the past year. The group recorded revenues of $15,700 and expenses totalling $14,182 – with a leftover cash balance of $1,518.
Townsend said the market would have to increase its vendor fees by 32.5 per cent to accommodate the monthly fee – something the board isn’t willing to do, Nash said.
“Most of our vendors are small vendors. Coming to the market, for them, is an opportunity to make a little bit of extra money. Maybe they do well enough that they start a small business, maybe it turns into something. But for most, this is a side hustle – they have [other] jobs,” Nash said.
“The only people who could accommodate such a rate increase are the big vendors, which isn’t what we, or this council want,” he added.
HCFM currently charges vendors $300 per season to appear at the Haliburton market.
Fearrey told The Highlander the idea of implementing a monthly fee was to cover the cost of any damages at the park after a market.
“A free ride is not going to happen in the park anymore. If you’re causing extra expenses, you should pay for that,” Fearrey said. “This is a high impact day on the washrooms. We’ve got to check them regularly. With four washrooms open, it’s extra supplies, extra cleaning – that’s a cost that shouldn’t be borne by other taxpayers. Then there’s the damage that’s done to the grass [when it’s wet].
“This is a high-profile property. Where else are you going to find a location like that, with parking and washrooms, for $1,000 a month? I don’t think [paying that] will kill them,” the mayor added.
Fearrey explained how he arrived at that $1,000 number – with the market boasting between 40 and 50 vendors, the mayor believes each of those can afford to pay an extra $20 per month. He also noted council will “assess” implementing fees on other events and programs that take place in the park on a case-by-case basis.
The Haliburton market was held at Head Lake Park for 11 years before being moved to nearby Rotary Beach Park last season. Nash said the relocation was not well received – by vendors, or the public. Attendance was down approximately 30 per cent from the prior year, an anomaly, Nash said, considering HCFM’s other events in Minden and at Abbey Gardens saw significant growth.
“We want to have a market in Haliburton, but I don’t think we would get very many vendors signing up to go back to Rotary Beach. Although we may want to run a market, my sense is we wouldn’t have the vendors to do it,” Nash said, confirming Head Lake Park is the only viable location from the board’s perspective.
Townsend feels it would be inappropriate for the board to direct market volunteers to police parking at Head Lake Park and along Highland Street on market days – another Dysart council request.
Next steps
Townsend said applications for the coming season typically go out to would-be vendors Jan. 1, with a final decision over who’s in made by the end of January. While applications have gone out, there hasn’t been much uptick thus far.
“We’re asking people to apply, but we don’t know 100 per cent yet where we’re going to be. Most people are hoping we’re going back to Head Lake Park and will apply based on that,” Townsend said.
The board is willing to adjust the market’s hours to try and mitigate traffic issues on market days, which has been another stumbling block for Dysart, particularly coun. Pat Casey. The ward 1 councillor has repeatedly spoken of his concern with vehicles parking along Highland Street, creating what he believes is a dangerous logjam heading into and out of town.
Townsend said the board would also be willing to provide a damage deposit to the township. Nash said the board has no record of any damage claims from the township in the 11 years the market was held at Head Lake Park.
For us, we feel the community has spoken. People want the market back at Head Lake Park. It’s a big attraction for Haliburton, it helps the downtown businesses. Head Lake Park is much more accessible than Rotary Beach – basically, people with mobility issues and moms with strollers stopped coming last year because they couldn’t move around as freely,” Townsend said. “This is about supporting local farmers, growers, producers and artisans.”
Fearrey said he would be disappointed to lose the Haliburton market, noting council is open to meeting with HCFM executives to find a resolution that works for everyone.
“Nobody is trying to discourage things from happening in the park… but if you’re holding an event where you’re making money… then you’ll have to pay something,” Fearrey said.
