Downtown farmers market raises funds to pay high city bills with tweet

 

Following council’s decision on Oct. 2 to not waive an additional $3,000 in fees for the use of Charles Clark Square next summer, one Windsorite used social media to launch the campaign that could help the Downtown Windsor Farmers Market succeed for years to come.

Jon Liedke of the Windsor Independent said he became frustrated Monday night while viewing Windsor’s City Council meeting on TV Cogeco. Without much thought or planning he said, he wrote a tweet inviting twenty nine Windsorites who shared his view to donate $100 to the Downtown Windsor Farmers Market just to highlight what a small amount of money it was.

“I want to see them become sustainable and see them get to a point where they can raise rates for their farmers, start to pay the city more money and maybe get to a point where they can buy their own building, that would be great,” said Liedke.

Less than 24 hours after sharing his pitch with the world, Liedke said his Facebook, Twitter and email accounts were flooded with messages of support from local media, interested sponsors and serious pledges. He said he was surprised to learn a lot of pledges were made by people in their 20s and early 30s who don’t typically get involved in politics. Still, he said he was excited to see the outpouring of support for the DWFM and hopes city council will spend less time arguing about money and more time focusing on what they can do to move Windsor forward.

“I’m glad it worked and if that means we can now start to have a conversation about amenities in our city and whether or not people what to see these types of things continue I think that’s a great starting point,” said Liedke.

Rino Bortolin for Ward 3 was one of the four councillors who supported the Downtown Residents Association’s proposal to reduce fees again for the DWFM. As a former vendor and current restaurant owner, he believes the market is a valuable use of public space and the city should work to develop a direct partnership with the market in the future.

“It’s adding to the cultural fabric of the city, creating economic development opportunities and it’s non-profit,” said Bortolin

“I can understand Jon’s and other people’s frustration. I can’t believe how many emails and calls I’ve been getting asking how the city can nickel and dime one group for $3,000 then turn around and spend 5 million dollars more on something else.”

Tim Marshall is a returning vendor and site facilitator for the DWFM. Marshall said the current $35/week fee vendors pay is used primarily to cover the cost of DRA services including promotion, liability insurance and some salaries. He also said vendors use a minimal amount of the city’s electricity and water in exchange for the many growing number of jobs and businesses they create year round.

“I’ve heard some people call it a special interest group before, but I have lots of customers who come down from Riverside, Tecumseh and South Windsor each Saturday so I guess everyone who lives in the city is a special interest group because we all benefit from the market, both the vendors and the people who shop there,” said Marshall.

Several city councillors re-stated Monday that their main reasoning for continuing to charge non-profits like the DWFM for the use Windsor’s public spaces is because they do not want to create a “free-for-all” that could apply to all volunteer-based organizations. Bortolin, on the other hand, said he would like more groups to take up the challenge and more Windsorites voicing their opinion on important council issues using platforms like social media.

“If the problem becomes we have too many groups who are volunteer driven and doing great work like the DWFM then that’s a great problem to have, especially when we’re talking about waving fees for empty space and not handing out grants,” said Bortolin.

As of Wednesday, Nov. 4, shortly before 4 p.m. Liedke wrote another post confirming more than $3,000 in pledges have been made as well as promises for additional funds in the future.