By JIMMY LAWTON
North Country Now

OGDENSBURG -- Ogdensburg City Council is urging Everything 4 Entertainment to get a site plan for the proposed Ogdensburg Riverfest to planners as soon as possible.

Sarah Purdy said Monday there was good communication and movement between the city and the planners who are proposing a multi-day concert in Ogdensburg featuring at least one nationally known act.

However, she said one sticking point has been the lack of a site plan that can be reviewed by the city and turned back over for revisions.

Event organizer Joe Howe spoke at the meeting Monday saying the plan was not submitted because he is waiting to hear back from the Department of Health regarding regulations for gates and other issues. He said any plan submitted now, would likely require substantial changes.

Howe said his company was not ready to book an artist until the city signed an agreement. Purdy said the city attorney has reviewed the agreement and recommended some changes, but the plan was needed as starting point and that changes in the future would not be problem.

Councilor Dan Skamperle urged Howe to submit plan and said he did not want to see the city become a hindrance for the event, which is expected to draw 10,000 people to the Ogdensburg.

After some back and forth between Howe and Purdy, Howe agreed to submit a plan in a timely manner.

Ogdensburg resident Gary Ladouceur also raised some concerns about the concert at the meeting. He said that he and other residents do not have a problem with the event-taking place, but wants to ensure residents in the neighborhood are considered.

Issues he raised centered around parking, river access and general safety.

Another resident, Tina Keller, spoke in support of the event. She said the concert could stimulate the local economy and make Ogdensburg a tourist destination, much as the Bassmasters Elite Series has done for Waddington.

Among the entertainers being considered for the two-day festival are Darius Rucker, Alanis Morissette, Brian Adams, Daughtry, Doobie Brothers, Elvis Costello, Foreigner, Styx, TLC, Bob Seger and Duran Duran.