By Ryan Whisner
The Fort Atkinson City Council Tuesday authorized the Fort Atkinson Farmers Market — an annual and seasonal event — to be held in 2023 in its traditional location in the public parking lot across from the U.S. Post Office.
Typically, the location of the event is approved with minimal discussion.
At Tuesday’s council meeting, the item was part of the council’s consent agenda, which consists of a grouping of items approved by one vote unless separated for discussion.
A discussion was held on the matter after several area residents appeared before the council to address their concerns about an alleged repeat of a performance of a drag queen, citing a performance which occurred at the market in June 2022.
Following the performance by Victorya Attwood at the June 11, 2022 market, which drew an estimated crowd of 350 people of all ages, 14 people admonished the council for allowing the show to occur and demanded an apology.
At Tuesday’s meeting, several speakers alluded to an allegation that a similar performance was being scheduled. However, speakers coming before council did not cite from where they had heard the information that was causing them concern.
Like last June, those who were addressing the council Tuesday were mistakenly addressing the panel about an issue over which it has no purview.
Fort Atkinson City Manager Rebecca Houseman LeMire noted during the meeting that no taxpayer dollars are utilized to support the Fort Atkinson Farmers Market entertainment.
Rather, the market falls under the direction of the Fort Atkinson Area Chamber of Commerce, a membership-based organization that develops programming to encourage engagement between its members and the broader community.
The Fort Atkinson Farmers Market is funded through vendor fees, sponsorship dollars, and donations. Chamber member dues do not support the farmers market, but members can sponsor specific aspects of the market. The market is outside of some promotional funding through room tax dollars, according to information provided by the chamber.
Room tax dollars are paid by those who stay overnight at a hotel, motel, or other accommodation available to the public and utilized by the chamber to promote tourism events within the community.
Following allegations made by the speakers, by voice vote, the council agreed to remove the Farmers Market item from the consent agenda to allow for individual discussion of that agenda item.
Before the vote, Council President Chris Scherer stressed that the council was debating the merits of the farmers market being held in the parking lot, and not the entertainment, which appeared to be the issue raised by the speakers.
Council member Bruce Johnson praised those in attendance for showing interest in city government and expressing their opinions.
“Although I have great sympathy for how you feel, I think some of your opinions are somewhat unfounded,” he said. “The city council did not create that situation last summer. It happened because certain rules did not forbid it to some degree.”
Johnson suggested that the voices of the people had indeed been heard by the Fort Atkinson Area Chamber of Commerce. He said the policies relating to the market entertainment have been rewritten.
“The part of it that I found important states that entertainers must be cognizant of the family friendly atmosphere of the market and ensure content is appropriate to all ages; profanity or vulgar language is not permitted in performances,” he said. The policy further states that by agreeing to perform at the Fort Farmers Market, you are agreeing to adhere to the expectation that no political, religious, or what could be deemed as activist campaigning is permitted in the performances.
“Your voices have been heard,” Johnson reiterated. “They’ve adjusted their position on it and I honestly believe you won’t see a repeat of last summer. There are certain things we can and cannot do as a council, but I think your voices have been heard.”
In addition, he added that he believes the market should continue.
“I think they’ve made the adjustments to make you satisfied with this year,” Johnson said. “If not, we’ll revisit this issue, but at the moment, it seems I believe it’s going to be settled and we should move forward to keep the farmers market.”
During public comment, council members Mason Becker and Megan Hartwick were called out for interjecting.
Under state law and city ordinance, council members are unable to address topics raised during public comment unless it is an item included on that night’s agenda. In this instance, there was an item on the agenda related to the farmers market.
“Contrary to comments about our interjections, I just think part of our role is also to clarify information,” Hartwick said during the final discussion. “If information is being put out to the community, or folks are coming up here and speaking about things to us that simply is just not correct or not a part of our process, or not how these things go, I do think it is our role to clarify those things, not just for our sake, but for that individual who’s speaking sake and community-wide so they have a better understanding of how this process works and what our policies are.”
Continuing, she said when someone is upset that funding is going toward something that they don’t support or believe in, it is important to add that the city does not provide funding to that.
“There has to be a little bit of due diligence and understanding of where these conversations need to be had,” Hartwick said. “A quick phone call or email to the chamber and they could have clarified for you what this new policy is that’s in place, that there is not a similar performance planned for this summer, and that they have heard the feedback, and they have had internal discussions with their board and their staff, and they have put a new policy in place.”
Hartwick said that the council cannot decide to take more authority over an organization when that authority doesn’t exist.
“I understand the concern over when things take place on public property,” Hartwick said. “What we were voting on tonight was simply whether or not to allow the farmers market to exist again in our community, which, I think, is something I would hope everyone in this room agrees that it’s a benefit and an asset to our community.”
Council member Eric Schultz said he agreed with his colleagues that the market should continue.
“I do understand the concerns of residents about that specific performance at the market last year that many of us did not deem as being family-friendly,” he said. “It was too vulgar and inappropriate for many. If there are any more complaints about that specific performance at the farmers market in the past or concerns about possible future performances, I would ask that you direct those comments to the Fort Atkinson Chamber of Commerce.”
Schultz said he contacted the chamber, noting the policy indicates that the performances should be vocal or instrumental and be cognizant of the family-friendly atmosphere.
“As a resident, I did ask the director of the chamber of commerce, that I felt that the term family-friendly was a little bit too loose, you know, loosely worded or it can be subjectively or, you know, perceived in different ways,” he said. “I hope that these performances are family friendly to all, not just those on a specific side of the political spectrum.”
Schultz also noted that most of the chamber staff is new since last year.
“What we’re discussing tonight is whether or not we’re going to allow the farmers market to happen,” he said. “I’m with you on a lot of the things you guys talked about tonight and I hear you and I would personally prefer not to see that happen again and I hope that the chamber of commerce has heard our voices.”
Wrapping up the discussion, Becker said he supports the chamber and the farmers market.
“I don’t support intentional misinformation that’s put out and I think some people should be using more discretion about what you choose to believe on what you read on certain Facebook groups,” he said. “Maybe take that under advisement, and maybe things can run a little bit more efficiently. I support our farmers market, I support continuing with it, and I support free speech in all its forms.”
The council voted unanimously to allow the Fort Farmers Market to take place in the public parking lot that is located between East Water Street and Milwaukee Avenue East.
Of the 10 individuals who signed up to speak to the council about the market, five chose to come to the podium and make their address. Two of the 10 were denied an opportunity to speak because it was determined that they were not city residents.
David Neal said that he is a taxpaying citizen of Fort Atkinson and a pastor and father of three children.
He cited the mission statement of the Fort Famers Market, which states that the market celebrates local foods and arts while nurturing neighbor-to-producer relationships, cultivating healthy communities, and integrating sustainable practices into our everyday lives. Further, he said the market etiquette adds that the intention is “to create a welcoming and clean atmosphere, we ask the vendors refrain from smoking and swearing.”
“Regarding the policies and procedures, I find a lot of disconnect and frankly, a lot of hypocrisy regarding what took place last summer and what many would like to see take place this upcoming summer,” Neal said. “Just as I have many roles, I have many hats I wear, so do you. I want you to please just step back away from your role for a moment as a city council member and think about your other roles.”
He asked the council members to think about who they are to the children of Fort Atkinson.
“We have a responsibility to protect all of our children,” he said.
Following Neal’s comments, Becker asked LeMire several questions, including: Does the city council run the Fort Atkinson farmers market? Is there an item about a drag queen on tonight’s agenda? Did we budget anywhere for a drag queen show in the city budget? Is it the responsibility of the city council to micromanage any acts that are booked by anybody in Fort Atkinson?
A response from LeMire to each questions was “no.”
Hartwick added whether the process to approve the farmers market was any different from any other special event within the city.
LeMire gave said it was not.
“They all go through the same special event process and the city council and city staff do not choose entertainment for any of those events,” she said.
Carrie Kendrick said she believed residents had come to the council in June 2022 after the drag show performance was approved by the Fort Atkinson Chamber of Commerce. She said residents were present Tuesday in advance of the appropriation of funds for such entertainment.
“We demand that it be stipulated in writing that none of the monies that are given to the chamber for the entertainment be used for venues that are violent, sexual, provocative or gender-related,” she said. “There is no need for entertainment at all at a farmers market, as the market is supposed to be about farmers and crafts and people selling their wares.”
Kendrick said she and others would like to see a copy of the written stipulation attached to the farmers market.
“While you are not directly involved with what they do, you do hold the purse strings,” Kendrick said.
She alleged that the council had stated last year that the city did provide funding to the Fort Farmers Market, but was not in control of how it was used.
“We would like it clarified, maybe you can talk to them about what their events are,” Kendrick said. “I’m going to tell you that if this persists, if you or the chamber of commerce persist in agendas like the drag show, I can promise you, an army of folks like myself will be going door-to-door, exposing your involvement and urge our community to vote you out and vote chamber members out. You have control and you could do something about it, I believe.”
Addressing the body, Terri Nelson acknowledged the lack of the council’s involvement in the market’s organization.
“I just felt compelled to still just say a little bit because we’re all part of this community,” Nelson said. “I feel a calling to be loving and caring to everybody, no matter what their views are and that sort of thing. I know a lot of people, my friends are just like me, I can be a friend to these sorts of people, but I don’t consider it family friendly.”
Echoing Kendrick, she too suggested that the council did not previously state its lack of involvement.
“I don’t support that as family-friendly in any way and it isn’t a bigoted thing, I just want to be a voice of reason that says I just cannot support that sort of thing,” Nelson said. “I hope that whatever influence the city can have that you would play that part.”
Addressing council, Ron Martin offered congratulations to Becker for what he said was his “hard work for attempting to squelch the public comments.”
“We get it, you don’t provide funding to the farmers market,” he said. “We understand that the city council does not control what goes on at the farmers market and that’s up to the chamber of commerce to set those policies and procedures in place”
He noted that the market is held on public property.
“Saying that the city has no control over it, or no jurisdiction, is kind of a cop-out because when the rubber meets the road, the city really would have some control or some say, in the events that take place there,” Martin said. “Now you can deny all you want that you have no responsibility, but we’re not going to buy that. We’re not going to accept another drag queen show, or even worse events taking place at the farmers market or anything on public property in the city of Fort Atkinson.”
Also addressing council, Bill Shipley stated that he agreed with statements made by Kendrick and Martin.
Fort Atkinson Municipal Building, file photo/Kim McDarison.
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