Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kristy Rich and Parks and Recreation Director Kelly Money addressed the St. James City Council on Jan. 12 about a resolution regarding a contract for the 2026 Grape and Fall Festival with Hulsey Amusements for carnival rides and game operations.

Mayor Rick Krawiecki brought the resolution into discussion.

“Moving onto resolution No. 26-428: approve contract to provide amusement ride and game operation for the 2026 Grape & Fall Festival. Linda (Cochran, clerk), we’ll have you read it, and then we’ll ask Kelly (Money) to come up and share some information along with Kristy (Rich) and everything as to why we’re at this juncture,” said Krawiecki.

According to the document No. 26.428, “A resolution approving a contract to provide amusement ride and game operations for three days commencing Sept. 10-12, 2026, for the annual Grape & Fall Festival with Hulsey Amusement of Hot Springs, Ark., for $30,000,” said Cochran.

Krawiecki explained why the city needed to enter into a contract.

“I think in the packet, you all have a news release that went out, a month ago, two months ago,” said Krawiecki. “It’s kind of a background on (what) the chamber came to after the years of service and the need to kind of take a step back a little bit and focus on some other things (street market and parade). We were kind of partnering with them to provide at the Nelson Hart Park, the amusement rides and all of that. That being said, that takes being entering into a contract with Hulsey Amusements, and I know the number one question is going to be where is the money going to come from and how are we going to fund this?”

Money shared background information about how the chamber has come up with funds in the past for the carnival company. She’s been the director of the chamber for four years, and they’ve had a contract with Hulsey Amusements in the past because the chamber knew they’d be going out of business if action wasn’t taken. The chamber has paid $25,000 in the past for its operations at the festival.

“What we decided two years ago, and it’s been really good for the town, is that we’d like to give our kids, kindergarten all the way through age 15, wristbands, so that there’s no impediment for going to the carnival, and we didn’t know if we’d be able to raise that $25,000, but both years we’ve done that," said Money. “We always have a golf tournament, it’s for the chamber’s budget, but we decided to name it the Bob Wilson Memorial Golf Tournament and try to double what we were bringing in from that golf tournament and give all those proceeds toward the carnival.”

In the chamber’s first year of doing that, they raised between $7,000-$8,000 for the event. 

“Visit Rolla has grant money, and really, it’s for all of Phelps County, so St. James has access to that, and because it’s a three-day event (Grape & Fall Festival) it qualifies for $3,000-$4,000, so I’ve already applied for that. We got it last year and I don’t see us having any obstacles in the way to get that,” said Money. 

The rest of the money came in through sponsorships, individuals and charging a $20 gate fee for people who came in from out of town.

“With the three or four things you mentioned, you arrive roughly around $20,000, that you feel comfortably we can come up with again this year?” asked Krawiecki.

Money agreed.

“And then sales through rentals for food trucks and what have you?” asked Krawiecki.

Money confirmed he was correct.

Krawiecki asked Rich to address the council because she’s going to be helping Money spearhead the festival and mentioned an upcoming demolition derby.

“The Demo Derby coming up in June?” asked Krawiecki.

“Right, June 6 we’ll have a demolition derby and all that funding will go toward the expense of the Grape and Fall Festival,” said Rich. “One thing that the Mayor wanted me to reiterate is that we will have a completely separate fund for the Grape and Fall Festival, so all these monies, all the expenses will be separate from the park budget.” 

The Grape and Fall Festival will be in its 93rd year and has played a big part in St. James' history.

“No taxpayer dollars will be used to fund any of this (expenses associated with the festival),” said Krawiecki.

He addressed a potential concern about not getting a carnival booked for consecutive years.

“If we don’t continue to get a carnival this year, they book somewhere else; we may not be able to get another carnival,” said Krawiecki. “It’s something that people in St. James have come to expect.”

He reminded the council that the resolution to enter into a contract with Hulsey Amusements for $30,000 doesn’t have to be paid until the carnival, and opened discussion for questions.

Councilor Ward 1 Tyler Wagnon asked a question about what operations would be excluded.

“I noticed that it said no outside bounce houses,” said Wagnon. “Will this exclude, like the dunk tank or the extra stuff? Does this exclude all of that?”

“We’ll be able to continue to do the project graduation dunk tank,” said Rich.

“It’s like the no bounce house?” asked Wagnon.

Rich agreed.

“It’s the only thing that it spelled out,” said Wagnon.

“As Kelly found out, we don’t have enough power in the park to keep the bounce house going,” said Rich. “Unless you all let me really upgrade the power in the park, we won’t be able to have a bounce house for the kids.”

Councilor Ward 2 Mark Gray asked what they would do if they didn’t raise all of the funds.

“How do we come up with a balance if we don’t raise enough?” asked Gray.

“We’ll go beg the chamber for some more money,” said Krawiecki.

“I assure you, we’ll partner together along the way,” said Money.

Councilor Ward 3 Isaiah Willis made a motion to approve the resolution. Councilor Ward 1 David bond seconded. The motion passed with a 7-0 vote to approve a resolution to enter into a contract with Hulsey Amusements for $30,000 that doesn’t have to be paid until the carnival.

In other business, the council passed with a 7-0 vote an amendment to Ordinance No. 25-1310, Amend City Code, Chapter 150 regarding the City Cemetery. The passed vote puts the city cemetery under the supervision and leadership of the park board.

The next city council meeting will be at 6 p.m. on Feb. 9 in the council chambers located at 1320 Nelson Hart Drive St. James.