Council hears proposal for Halloween Festival

Oct. 5—Halloween is the second largest retail holiday, coming in only after Christmas.

Currently London hosts several Halloween-themed events, and Sheila Shear is hoping to add another to the list.

Shear approached the London City Council with her idea to host a Fright Festival that would mimic those held in Lexington and Louisville. ScareFest and Creepy Con have had large successes in those cities and Shear hopes to host a smaller event in London next year.

Shear presented her plan for the weekend event, proposing either Oct. 4 through 6 or 11 through 13 next year.

"We'd do it as a convention, which draws large crowds," she said. "We could have booths, an adult and kids costume contest. Adults like to dress up at Halloween too."

The contests, she said, would have entry fees. Some of her ideas included a Best Death contest, horror trivia, themed cake decorating contest, pumpkin decorating contest for children. She explained that the Best Death contest is derived because in some of the horror movies — which are especially prominent during the Halloween season — the "victims" who are supposedly dead can be seen breathing.

The event also has potential for its own touches on the local front. Shear said perhaps the school dance teams could participate and perform a routine to Halloween themed music. "Thriller" remains a popular dance song for all ages, she said.

"I've seen the school dance teams and they are amazing," Shear said.

She added that Halloween generates millions of dollars each year in retail sales.

"In 2021, sales generated $10.1 billion. That was up by $5 million," she said. "These fright conventions are very popular and bring in huge crowds."

With such events held in Lexington and Louisville, council members asked Shear why she wanted to host such an event in London.

"Because that's where I live," she answered.

Council members asked if Shear had approached the city tourism commission, which funds such events. Shear said her first presentation was for council members to approve, then she would approach the tourism commission.

In other business, council members approved advertising for bids for 4 used 53-foot van trailers, which would be funded through a Recycling grant. Also was approved was advertising for bids to pave the transfer station. Mayor Randall Weddle said the action was approved last month, but that a more detailed description was needed. That voided the prior approval, necessitating council members to approve the new bidding process. That passed unanimously.

Water pump stations was also on the agenda for Monday night's meeting. Zach Creech and Chris Cox with the London Utility Commission said many city residents had low water pressure due to excess pressure on existing lines. Creech said that Camelot Place is particularly an area where a pump station was needed. He added that Rolling Acres had three pump stations.

"The pressure needs to be at 65 PSI and most of the time it's at 30 or less," he said.

Assisting first responders with locating houses during emergencies was another topic addressed by council members.

While many people do not wish their house numbers to be on their mail boxes or homes, Building Inspector Josh Wilson said those identifying factors can assist first responders in finding the location.

"It would help us but it would help the police, fire and EMS in responding to emergencies," he said.

Other city officials said they wished displaying house numbers on residences and apartments was a state law. Police Chief Chuck Johnson said it is difficult to identify a specific location when housing complexes have a mailbox area and no other identifying information.

"It's hard when you pull up and there's 35 mailboxes," he said. "You don't know which one you need to go to."

Mayor Randall Weddle said some residents can't afford the numbers on their homes or didn't want the numbers on their homes. He said the city had assisted many residents who couldn't afford the numbers.

Wilson added that the state requires house numbers to be displayed on all residences with all new projects, which would assist in the future.

Speed bumps on Boering Drive was also addressed. The winding hilly roadway still has issues with motorists speeding in that area and council members discussed the costs of installing speed bumps along that section. Randy Gay with the City Street Department said rubber speed bumps had been placed on other streets. He said asphalt speed bumps that were 6 inches wide and 3 1/2 to 4 inches tall were more cost effective and could be done at lesser costs than the rubber ones.

A storm drain project listed on the agenda was dismissed after Weddle said the project would create water flow problems on South Main Street. Weddle said the city was working with state officials to install a connecting drain but that the project was too costly and would create other problems for the city.