MARSHALL — Offering electrical hookups for special events in Marshall carries a cost to the city, in terms of staff time and inspection fees, Marshall Parks and Recreation Superintendent Preston Stensrud said this week. That was a reason behind a proposed $100 fee for electrical hookups at private events, which came before the Marshall City Council on Tuesday.

However, the proposal met with some criticism from council member James Lozinski.

“How do you justify $100 per day per vendor for electric hookup? That seems high,” Lozinski said.

The proposed fee was sent back to the council Ways and Means Committee for more discussion.

Marshall city finance director Karla Drown said the proposed electric hookup fee was discussed by the Ways and Means Committee in May, and was recommended to come before the council. The fee for electrical hookups for private events would be $100 per day, for each vendor at the event.

Stensrud said the proposal would help compensate for inspection costs and staff time to set up the electric hookups.

When trailers are hooked up at special events, Stensrud said, “We have to hook up temporary power panels, which every time we take one up and put one down, we have to have it inspected by the state electrical inspector for $75.”

In addition, it took time for city staff to bring an electrical panel to the site and have Marshall Municipal Utilities hook it up, as well as to take the panel down after the event.

“Based on what we’re doing, $100 is far less than what it should be,” Stensrud said.

Stensrud estimated that the city had hooked up a temporary electrical A-frame at Independence Park about seven times this summer. “We try and limit the vendors, and you can only hook up a maximum of two, because of the draw,” he said.

Marshall Public Works Director Jason Anderson said tasks like closing streets and moving signs, that the city does for downtown events, also take staff time.

Lozinski said the city has held events like Crazy Days and summer parades for many years without bringing up a potential fee for private events.

“I think $100 is too high. I would be comfortable with $50 a day,” Lozinski said of the proposed electrical fee. “We want vendors to show up” to special events, he said.

Council member Steven Meister said some good points had been raised in discussion, and said he’d be willing to take the proposal back to the Ways and Means Committee.

Council members voted to approve Meister’s motion to send the proposed electrical hookup fee back to committee.