Stevensville vendors and council spar over new event fees as organizers say mayor-approved permit cannot be retroactively repriced

Jess Bunder, a representative of the Harvest Valley Farmers Market, told the Stevensville Town Council on Feb. 26 that the market operates as a Montana nonprofit and that vendor fees historically covered community-serving costs such as insurance, porta-potties and cleanup. She said the market’s application for a 2026 special-event permit was submitted Jan. 9 and signed by the mayor on Jan. 13, and argued the Feb. 12 fee resolution could not be applied retroactively to increase the cost for an already-approved permit.

The market organizer said the group had paid a flat $100 seasonal fee under Resolution 4-91 and that the newer fee schedule (Resolution 5-48/5-40 referenced in testimony) appeared to split or add charges the market had not anticipated. “We have been paying $100 for five years,” Bunder said, and about a $5,050 Father’s Day contribution the market made to town parks last year illustrated the market’s community benefit.

The concern drew multiple public comments. Mary Gunter told the council that adding the new charges “will only harm our community members” and urged transparency on how any additional fees would benefit the market. Jackie Nicole Miller, who identified herself as a small-business owner and parent, said higher fees could force vendors to drop out and reduce an important source of seasonal income. Catana Miller proposed opening private property at 108 Main Street as an additional market site to preserve low-cost vendor space if downtown fees rise.

Market representatives pressed the council on ordinance language. Bunder cited municipal code sections discussed in the hearing (including section 12.116 and 22.315a/b as read into the record) and said ordinance 156 and section 22.315a delegate permit approval for special events with fewer than 1,000 participants to department review and the mayor, with council only approving location and hours under section 12.116. She asked the council to apply the town’s historical administrative practice consistently and not to treat a long-standing weekly seasonal market as an “ongoing” biweekly renewal case.

Council members acknowledged the concern and said they were looking for a solution to keep the market viable. Councilmember Ross thanked market organizers for their research, and one council member said they were working “to lower it down” so the market stays in town. The council did not adopt a new fee exemption or reversal during the meeting but signaled follow-up: the mayor said final answers about implementing resolution changes would likely be available before the next regular meeting.

The meeting also advanced several routine and procedural items. The council adopted Resolution 11a to create a seven-member park advisory board with advisory (not policymaking) authority. A motion to table approval of the Rent/Grant Creek Excavating LLC contract for a sink replacement was approved and scheduled for reconsideration March 9 while legal issues are resolved. The council directed staff to issue a request for quotes for motor-pool maintenance services. The council also approved biweekly claims (numbers 20213–20226) by recorded voice votes of councilmembers present.

What happens next: Council members said they will review the fee schedule and the ordinance language cited by market organizers before taking further action; the market’s organizers asked the town to apply the ordinance and permit practice consistently and to consider lowering fees or clarifying the fee schedule’s intent.