Raymond council discusses portable stage

Ron Riemann
Westwind Weekly News

Raymond Coun. Cathy Needham brought forward information from administration on a movable covered stage for sale in Ontario. Needham said the unit is available for $15,000, lower than the owner’s price of $16,900. There would be an additional cost of $5,000 to bring the unit to Raymond. Needham said a new stage would cost more than $150,000.

“It’s really a great thing because it’s movable. It’s like a semi-trailer so you can take it to any one of our events. It’s a covered stage… I just see a huge benefit,” said Needham. She said it would be beneficial for $15,000 as opposed to $150,000. The stage is 36 feet long and it is called a snow mobile portable.

Mayor George Bohne and Coun. Dustin Ralph agreed on the importance of a mobile stage citing outdoors concerts, grandstand events, graduations, Summer Games and Chautauqua as key events in using the stage. Councillor Barry Wolsey’s only concern was buying it without seeing it and if it was road worthy.

Needham said administration has had extensive talks on all issues relating to the stage. Bohne was also confident the Town did their homework on the shape of the stage as well.

“It’s something that we need and we cannot get a stage anywhere close to this price. We’ve looked at lots of them,” said Bohne.

Council suggested an appraisal be done and agreed in having the unit appraised before buying it. “I agree that we should look into it. You know, I just don’t want the situation where we pay $20,000 to get it and have to pay another $20,000 to refurbish that,” said Wolsey.

Bohne added the attractiveness and asking price of the unit requires immediacy from Town Administration to perform an independent appraisal and if they find it to be valuable, they would be given the authority to purchase it at a maximum of $20,000. Council made it a motion and was voted unanimously.

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