Business owner alarmed about impact of proposed event ordinance
SAXONBURG — At the borough’s council meeting on Tuesday, Saxonburg’s chamber was overflowing with people in opposition to a proposed event ordinance, which a local business owner says would put an end to Sprankle’s Ocktoberfest.
Many Saxonburg residents and business owners spoke out against the proposed legislation, which has not yet been released to the public, to applause from the crowd.
As of Tuesday evening, most of what was shared about the ordinance came from local business owner Doug Sprankle, who alleges that the borough’s secretary told him there will be a 90-day approval process for events included in the ordinance.
Sprankle runs Octoberfest in Saxonburg and says the 90-day approval process essentially will end the event; canceling it this year will cost him approximately $40,000.
“I can’t cancel it,” said Sprankle. “This event is our fifth anniversary. It’s our biggest year yet. We’ve been doing it legally now under two different boroughs and councils with no problems. And now if we had to cancel it, we’d be out substantial money. We’d let down our community.”