Buffalo City Council smoothes the way for firemen’s concert at Harriman Park

Artist’s rendition of the new track and field facility at BHS. In a brief meeting at City Hall on Friday afternoon the Buffalo City Council advanced the planned Volunteer Fire Department concert set for Harriman Park on July 16, and 17. The council voted to suspend the alcoholic beverage ordinance and allow coolers brought into the park for a small fee. Safety features included: no glass containers, security officers required, no sale of alcoholic beverages and the provision of insurance to protect the city.

Ricky Calmbach, Jake Hooker, and Tommy Alver- son are set to perform for the 16th, and Bo Cox, John Slaughter and Chris Brade are to play on the 17th. The Buffalo Volunteer Fire Department hopes to make this an annual fundraising event to help fund their activities until they can begin receiving payouts from ESD 4. Donations fell off following the passage of the ESD, but it will be a while before the firefighters begin to receive money from the district. This has been a problem for all the fire departments in the district.

The City gave the BVFD $10,000 towards expenses from the Hotel Motel fund at a previous meeting and approved $4500 more to fund the upfront expenses of the concert. A total of $21,500 has been pledged for the event. The Council requested a report from the firefighters about how many lodgers take advantage of the special rates set aside for concert goers and an accounting of the funds provided by the City for the event.