By Katelyn Sattler
Staff Writer
Mayor Angela Kirk shared news about the Zucchinifest, which will be held Sept. 1 to Sept. 4 at Fortress Obetz, 2015 Recreation Trail, Obetz.
Kirk said the Spin Doctors will perform at Zucchinifest. She also announced the “Obetz Home Advantage” Program for Zucchinifest 2023.
“The ‘Obetz Home Advantage’ program provides privileged access to our residents during the concert nights at Zucchinifest,” said Kirk. “We are offering a special parking area and a unique viewing area just for Obetz residents to enjoy the festival’s star-studded line-up, which includes the Spin Doctors on Friday; Vanilla Ice, Tone Loc, All-4-One on Saturday; and Brantley Gilbert and Matt Schuster on Sunday.”
According to Kirk, each household will receive wristbands based on the number of people in the household. Each wristband will grant access to these special privileges.
“Additionally, we are offering two guest wristbands per household that can be given to friends or family who are not Obetz residents, allowing them to join you in these exclusive areas,” said Kirk. “The ‘Obetz Home Advantage’ program is our way of saying thank you for your continuous support and love for our community. We are excited to bring this special offering and look forward to your participation.”
Council added money to operating supplies in the meeting to fund the wristbands.
More information will be sent to residents’ homes and Kirk will be recording a video about the program and put on (the website/social media sites).
Other Obetz news
•Council accepted the donation of light fixtures by Adam J. Rajczyk to the city and accepted to the city. The light fixtures will enhance the illumination of public spaces and contribute to the safety and aesthetic appeal of the city.
City Councilman Derek Varney said, “In my professional life, I was a lighting rep for a long time, and Adam Rajczyk’s dad owned a lighting company. Part of their strategy to get in the market more quickly was to buy a bunch in bulk. Then, the company went out of business.
So, I hooked him up with Service Superintendent Kyle Ingland and those light fixtures were donated to the city.”
The total value of the donation is over $34,000 and all light fixtures meet current standards.
•Council passed new legislation to declare living in a motor vehicle illegal.
Resident Becci Thacker Dunn asked, “What if grandparents come for the summer to visit their grandchildren and stay in their RVs?”
City Administrator Rod Davisson said, “This is a little different. It isn’t geared towards travelers or visitors. This legislation is geared towards folks who try to make a permanent living. When we all live as close as we do within the city, and thinking about health and sanitation, someone living out of their car wouldn’t have access to running water or restroom facilities. We try to ensure the health and safety of our residents.”
Davisson said there wasn’t a situation that prompted the legislation. “We’re going through our code and recognizing that other cities have this and we don’t.”
Davisson said visitors don’t need a visitation permit.
“It’s covered in that it either allows for exceptions by ordinance or other formal action of council,” said Davisson. “It says in the ordinance it doesn’t apply to registered guests, campers or residents at licensed mobile home or recreational vehicle parks.”
•Obetz Police Chief Mike Confer said his officers over the last two weeks took 1,636 calls for service; patrolled 5,810 miles; wrote 80 moving violations, 10 of which were for speeding; 12 parking violations; one felony arrest; two misdemeanor arrests; generated 32 offense reports; responded to five crashes; and one domestic violence incident.
