GIRARD — City officials are being asked to consider having a summer street festival in June.

They also are being asked about placing banners in the city from Memorial Day through Veterans Day to honor local veterans.

Tim Bortner with Bortner Shows Midway in Columbiana, who does festivals in several area communities, asked council Monday to consider having a summer festival June 15 to 17 in the downtown area.

Bortner said he would like to have the summer street festival become an annual event with a parade, vendors, games, live entertainment, petting zoo, safety vehicle display and children’s area.

He said proceeds from the event could be placed in the Many Hands Foundation and come back to the community as scholarships for local students, and financial help for local organizations.

Bortner said it would cost him $30,000 to have a three-day festival. Costs could be recouped from vendors and other fees. The city would have some cost for cleanup and security.

Fourth Ward Councilman Thomas Grumley, who years ago chaired the Girard Homecoming Festival, said he supports the idea of bringing a festival to the downtown area for residents.

Officials said the annual End of Summer Parade usually held in August could combine with the festival and be an earlier summer parade in June.

Council approved having city administrators work out plans for the festival.

HONOR VETERANS / MILITARY

Also, Roslyn Torella of Lowellville proposed a banner program to honor local veterans in Girard. The banners would be placed on light and telephone poles.

She said there are such programs in Lowellville, Struthers and Campbell. Niles also has a banner effort annually.

“The veterans banners would be displayed from May through November in the city. They bring a lot of goodwill to the community. It has been very successful in other communities,” Torella said,

She said the banners are funded by the families costing between $170 to $200 per banner and bracket and would be displayed for three years.

Torella said families after three years could request to have the banners up for more years at an additional fee.

Veterans would be anyone who has lived, worked or attended school in Girard. Active duty military are also eligible.

Third Ward Councilman Jeff Kay said the buildings and grounds committee will review the banner request.

INCOME TAX

Also, Auditor Julie Coleman reported income tax collections were $4.1 million in 2022, which includes a check from V&M Manufacturing of $353,065 compared with the $113,000 received from the company in 2021.

Coleman said total income tax collected including the check from V&M in 2021 was $3.5 million.