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ELKINS -- The Randolph County Commission has approved a funding request from the Mountain State Forest Festival -- but for only half the amount the MSFF requested.
Commissioners David Kesling and Cris Siler, who were present at the meeting, agreed to approve $10,000 of the $20,000 that Forest Festival executive director Heidi Bray requested during her presentation.
"We want to thank the county commission for their support over many, many years," said Bray. "After a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, the 84th Mountain State Forest Festival made a very strong comeback in 2022. This is due in part to the commission's generous allocation of $20,000 to the festival last year.
"Although we are still recovering, we are very confident that the 85th addition of our beloved festival will be a great success in 2023. This year we respectfully request the $10,000 from budgeted funds, which will help offset costs associated with hosting the state's largest and oldest festival."
Due to the rising cost of entertainment and some much-needed new items, Bray requested an additional $10,000 from the county commission.
"In addition to our $10,000 request, we are also requesting special funding in the amount of $10,000," she said. "Our 1995 Mack flatbed truck, also known as Big Ugly, is essential in Forest Festival setup for about a month before, and a month after. However, as the truck is nearing the end of its life cycle, we would like to replace the truck with a utility trailer."
Bray said the new trailer would make it much easier for Forest Festival employees to transport tables, chairs and decorations. She added that all the festival employees would be able to utilize the trailer, where the truck is limited to just one or two drivers who have a special license to operate the truck.
"We estimate that the trailer would cost somewhere between $5,000 to $7,000, and have a lifespan of 20 years," said Bray. "Additional funding left over from the trailer would be used to purchase folding chairs and table storage racks for our warehouse…With the right racks we could easily roll tables and chairs right onto the trailer, saving valuable time and energy."
Kesling said the additional money the commission gave the festival last year was available due to special COVID-19 pandemic funding the commission had received.
"We had already budgeted $5,000 for the Forest Festival," Kesling told Bray. "And we had also anticipated taking $5,000 from our hotel/motel tax. So we've already budgeted $10,000 total for the festival. So there is no problem there, but the additional $10,000 that we gave last year was from revenue replacement that we were able to take from COVID funds. We have spent all of our COVID funds."
Kesling added that the commission would be willing to help the Forest Festival with the purchase of the trailer and other items if the City of Elkins will also help with the bill.
"Have you gone to the city and asked them for any help on this trailer?" Kesling asked Bray. "Maybe if you go ask them, we can partner with them on the purchase of the trailer. I know they get a lot of revenue from the festival in the city, so they should be able to help out and partner with us on the trailer."
Bray, who served as an assistant director of the festival in 2022, was named executive director in May of this year. The 85th Mountain State Forest Festival is scheduled for Sept. 30-Oct. 8.