By Julie Johansen
Officers of the Emery High Rodeo Club and Club Advisor Dawnette Gordon approached the Castle Dale City Council Thursday evening, requesting a fee waiver for use of the arena facilities. The club uses the facilities for Tuesday practices, their spring high school rodeo and the Cowboy’s Memorial Rodeo in July, which is a fundraiser for the high school rodeo club.
Rodeo Club President Riata Christiansen reminded the council of the improvements the club has made to the bucking chutes and other areas of the arena. She also pointed out the number of participants and their families that come to the city for the high school rodeo in April as well as the Cowboy’s Memorial rodeo in July.
Vice President Hayden Cloward then presented a check to the city for $1,000 that came from funds the club raised at this year’s Cowboy’s Memorial Rodeo. Cloward expressed the club’s appreciation to the city in helping to host the rodeo and reported that the club wanted to give the city a gift in the form of the check. Mayor Danny Van Wagoner informed the team of the $2,700 cost to the city of maintenance and utilities for the rodeo.
Secretary Wyatt Magnuson thanked the council for its support. One challenge for the rodeo club is finding parking enough for all participants at the April high school rodeo. Possible solutions suggested were vacant lots and nearby parking lots. Councilman Joel Dorsch suggested using parents to direct the parking as well as doing pre-watering and maintenance. Advisor Gordon said that parents have so many responsibilities as the rodeo progresses that it would be hard to manage parking, but the other things could be done before the actual rodeo. She also reminded the council of the state requirements to host a rodeo.
The waiver was granted for Tuesday practices at the indoor arena and, because of some confusion on the agenda, the club was informed that the other events will have to come before the council at a later date.