Obtaining event permits differ in Big Rapids depending on where you want to hold your event.
While Ferris is considered private property, places like downtown are considered public property and require event permits before an event can be held.
If anyone’s looking to have an event on public property in Big Rapids, there’s a step-by-step process. It starts with filling out an event form, either online at City Hall’s website or by obtaining the paperwork. They then bring/submit the form to City Hall. Once City Hall files it to the appropriate departments the form is brought to the Department of Public Safety.
Department of Public Safety Officer William Sell explained the reasoning behind DPS looking at the permits.
“If it’s going to be in the streets and cones need to be set up, they’d forward [the event form] to [the Department of Public Works] and they would forward it to us,” Sell said. “I would normally look over it. Usually it’s myself or the chief of police would look over the events form, see if there’s any concerns or anything like that. And then as long as we approve it, we send it back to City Hall. Once they get all the approvals from all the other departments, it’s good to go.”
If someone has applied for the event form in the past, there’re a few differences that they can look for on the application form.
“I say that this form has changed. Just where we ask a little bit more detailed questions. You know if you’re going to be doing things like that, we request a map of where you’re going to be holding the event. But as far as changes there hasn’t been anything I know,” Sell said. “The only other thing that would be is lots of times previously it doesn’t have to do with the police department, but DPW was a lot of times supplying portlets, other things stages and things like that.”
In addition to this, the form previously had an application fee of $25. However, this fee has been waived. The fee schedule, which shows the cost of certain items required such as porta-potties, is still located on the back portion of the application. According to Sell, depending on the event, The City of Big Rapids can help sponsor and cover part of the cost.
Ferris has a different approach in regard to event planning. Campus groups like Entertainment Unlimited communicate with the Center for Student Involvement and hold annual events like open mic nights and grocery bingo.
Marketing sophomore David Carrier works for Entertainment Unlimited in Retention and Recruitment.
“The group votes on what we would like to see most of the time and the programming chairs usually pick a couple things like make and takes and then if it’s big event like the homecoming comedian, the bonfire, and the spring concert are all usually us and the university itself,” Carrier said. “Organizing events is normally just EU we get any and all supplies that the event requires unless the event is a vendor event and then most events like artists, make and takes and big shows take about two to three months to plan and finalize.”
This kind of communication allows for the event approval process to gain some speed compared to events on public property. EU provides guest speakers and activities all within the budget provided to them by the CSI and the university.
Certain events are so big that they require law enforcement to get involved. Events such as parades require police officers as escorts. However, on Ferris State grounds there’s only certain events such as Homecoming that are expected to have safety requirements which need to be acknowledged as the event goes on.
“If it’s a large event where there’s going to be a lot of people say like a parade, we’ll have extra officers that will be on either on foot patrol or we’ll need to bring in somebody to lead the parade,” Sell said. “I just basically go through and make sure that if it’s going to be on city streets, if it’s going to be safe. If there’s going to be road closures, make sure if there’s alcohol involved, that the correct permits are pulled with the state for that. There’s special permits that need to be pulled if you’re going to serve alcohol on public property.”
While the processes are different, events in Big Rapids both on and off campus require essential paperwork such as permits and guidelines that need to be met before they can happen. If someone’s planning on holding an event on public property, they can visit The City of Big Rapids website for the application.