OMG! There is a Fair Parade poster after all! With both the city’s logo and sponsorship recognition!

Hopefully, this Lassen County Fair Parade poster, created by the Lassen County Chamber of Commerce, will satisfy the concerns of Susanville City Councilmember Patrick Parrish.

The Fair Parade flyer includes the city of Susanville logo and “sponsored by the City of Susanville.”

During the council’s discussion on June 16, Parrish thanked the chamber for its “hard work” putting the event together.

“On their flyers, does it say sponsored by the city of Susanville?” Parrish asked.

David Teeter, a board member for the Lassen County Chamber of Commerce, told the council  the flyer was already out, and he was “pretty sure” it included that information.

“We are grateful for the city’s efforts in controlling traffic on Main Street during the event,” Teeter said. “We understand that there is great cost and many of those people working are working on Saturday during a time when many of us would rather be watching the parade than taking part in it. We certainly appreciate our city partners. We hope that they also continue to recognize our efforts. Sometimes that comes down to saying, ‘Nice work. Thanks for keeping the tradition alive. But that’s not answering the question.”

Teeter looked at his phone from the podium and then acknowledged the flyer was not yet completed.

“I know the plan is to show the city as a partner and cosponsor of the event,” Teeter said.

Parrish said the chamber had done a good job of listing the city as a sponsor, and he only brings it up because, “We’re spending $7,000, and I want the city to be recognized.”

Teeter said he agreed, but rather than spending, he said the city is actually “investing $7,000. The Lassen County Fair Parade  — even though it’s been going on for 30 or 40 years – is a part of the community building that our community is going to need in these somewhat difficult economic times. So, I would urge you to consider the language that you use — I understand spending money. It hurts. But we have to invest at this time and we have to invest in those things, those legacies that hold us to this place. So to me, the Fair Parade is something that’s more important than my own needs or even those of the city.”

“How do we make sure this is done right,” Parrish asked. “There’s a difference between saying and actually holding people accountable — two totally different things. Because I don’t want to say, yeah, I approve the flyer coming out, (and) we’re mixed in with whoever in a small 11 inch (sic) font, and then it’s, ‘Oh, I’m sorry, we can’t do anything about it,” Parrish said.

“Mr Parrish, all I have is my word,” Teeter said … So, I understand your need, but the only thing that I can show you is what I actually do. So, if you don’t accept my word, that’s on you, but what I’ve done in the past has proven to happen. And so, I would like you to accept my word that the Chamber of Commerce will give the city of Susanville its proper recognition for the Fair Parade.”

“And how is that going to be done?” Parrish asked.

“You just accept it,” Teeter said.

“No,” I can’t,” Parrish said. “I can’t. It’s not about you … ”