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Bellbrook, concert organizer at odds

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By Jeremy P. Kelley, Staff Writer Updated 9:05 PM Tuesday, July 14, 2009

SUGARCREEK TWP., Greene County — Ron Mullikin of Bellbrook Canoe Rental is planning a party, but he’s not sure why Bellbrook city officials are so upset about it.

The Bellbrook Jamboree is an eight-band bluegrass concert set for 6 p.m. Saturday, July 18 at the canoe rental site, which straddles the Bellbrook/Sugarcreek Twp. line along Washington Mill Road. Last year’s Jamboree drew nearly 1,000 people at the Greene County Fairgrounds, but Mullikin and Sugarcreek Twp. officials said this year’s event should be much smaller, with only a few hundred people.

At Monday’s Bellbrook City Council meeting, Mayor Mary Graves said she was disappointed that Jamboree organizers didn’t discuss their plans with the city. City Manager Mark Schlagheck said the city learned about the event earlier Monday and had concerns about traffic, noise and alcohol issues at the site, which is along the Little Miami River.

“I think the biggest thing is that there has to be honesty between the parties,” Graves said. “I think they should have contacted our city manager and said, your city is going to be impacted — is there any way we can help? This was not just planned in the past week.”

But Mullikin said there was no reason to talk to the city. He said the concert is being held south of the canoe rental’s offices, in a field that sits in Sugarcreek Twp. Township planner Cara KillKelley said Mullikin turned in the necessary documents Tuesday to get a zoning permit for a temporary use. That process required him to notify at least 60 percent of the residences within 400 feet of his property, including those across Washington Mill Road in Bellbrook.

Mullikin said the few hundred people expected are fewer than he handles for many weekend canoeing events, some of which include overnight camping, the same as Saturday’s concert.

Bellbrook-Sugarcreek Parks Director Jeff Stewart said his major concern is about protecting the adjacent Washington Mill Park from damage if people try to park there. He said he’s talked to Mullikin about temporary fencing on the edge of the park.

The potential for noise complaints was mentioned at Monday’s council meeting, and Mullikin said Bellbrook police told him they will respond to any noise complaints with a warning first, followed by a ticket on a second complaint, then shutting the event down on a third complaint.

But Mullikin wondered how much people would have to complain about, with the event likely to end around 10 or 11 p.m.

“We have one electric band out of eight,” he said. “And this is bluegrass, so what are you going to hear? A really loud banjo? This is not Jimi Hendrix doing the national anthem.”

Mullikin also had concerns about noise regulations being enforced evenly.

“If I complain about the noise from the football game, are they going to shut that down?” he asked. “They are being hypersensitive.”

The concert’s $10 admission includes camping privileges. The bands scheduled to appear Saturday are Mt. Pleasant String Band, Smug Brothers, Magnolia Mountain, Moon High, Wes Tirey, Jordan Hull, The 1984 NFL Draft, and Rock Island Plow Co. The concert’s Web site is bellbrookjamboree.com.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2278 or jkelley@daytondailynews.com.

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