A dispute between the Vernon Ribfest Society (VRS) and the O鈥橩eefe Ranch Society (ORS) that spilled into a Vernon city council meeting now has more clarification after documents have been unearthed.
The revelation, from private documents shared to The Morning Star, showed that the VRS broke terms of the ORS lease agreement, which led to the refusal of payment regarding the 2023 Ribfest event.
As a backgrounder, there was no Vernon Ribfest in 2020 or 2021 due to COVID-19, and the 2022 event was moved at the 11th hour to Swan Lake Market and Garden when it appeared a venue could not be found.
The event moved to neighbouring Spallumcheen in 2023, when the three-day feast featuring the pro grilling teams was held at historic O'Keefe Ranch.
Prior to the event, the VRS and ORS tried but could not accomplish a revenue-sharing arrangement for both organizations to sponsor the 2023 RibFest.
The arrangement became a rental agreement, but the VRS did not want to be charged rental fees. Instead, they suggested that the Ranch could collect gate receipts (admission by donation) from Ribfest 2023 patrons.
This was not unique, as prior Ribfest events had used different sponsorship agreements, and the 2023 edition was its third venue in three years.
The solution was for the ORS to charge a rental fee but deduct the gate receipt proceeds from patrons of the Ribfest. The deductions would be made to cover the rental cost plus GST.
If gate receipts were not sufficient to cover the rental charge, the VRS agreed that there would be a deduction from the security deposit ($7,500) for the balance of any rent due. Any damages to the Ranch property would also be deducted from the security deposit as specified in the contract.
During Ribfest, the gate receipts were collected by the ORS, with no assistance from VRS members. The admissions did exceed the rental amount.
However, significant damage occurred to the ORS property. VRS then refused to cooperate to provide documentation requested from them, so that the ORS could determine the actual amount of the security deposit that might be refunded, if any.
Most significant was a breach of the contract related to the septic field on the Ranch property. A tractor trailer parked on top of it, which violated the lease agreement that stated nothing would be on top of it, and such a breach would result in a forfeiture of all or a portion of the security deposit.
At the Monday, Feb. 24 council meeting, the VRS brought forth a motion to request the intervention of city council to help recoup the $7,500 (plus interest and fees). Council declined.
The VRS stated that 鈥淥'Keefe has not disclosed publicly or to VRS it is our understanding (from a reliable resource) that approximately $15,000 was collected at the Vernon Ribfest through gate donations over the three-day festival."
At the Vernon council meeting, Pete Weeber, the Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Vernon, explained that they received the correspondence from the VRS and called their decision not to issue any financial help "self-explanatory."
"From a staff perspective, we are not in a position to cover the expense."
Weeber then asked for the ORS to come to report on their current status at council.
Mayor Victor Cumming made a motion to for the ORS to show their financial situation at a time of their convenience in March.
O'Keefe Ranch was not on the council agenda for the Monday, March 10 meeting.
According to Jessica Hewitt, communications manager with the city, 鈥渨hen a group or society submits correspondence requiring a decision of Council, it is included on a public agenda. The mayor and administration review correspondence to ensure the content is appropriate and does not contravene any privacy or other legislation.鈥�
Hewitt, when asked why the Ranch went to the city when it could theoretically pursue the matter in small claims court, said that it is 鈥減ossible that the Vernon Ribfest Society is also pursuing small claims.鈥�
Messages to the VRS have so far gone unanswered.
