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DOWAGIAC — The Dowagiac City Council unanimously approved an event taking place Tuesday night, but not before addressing a misunderstanding regarding the approval process for events.

More than a dozen people attended the meeting in support of Charlie Kirk Day, a memorial and celebration event organized by Pamela Olivares set to take place downtown from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday. The event will feature a parade through town and a gathering at the Dowagiac District Library Pavilion for prayer, speeches, music, games and more.

The event was perceived by many in attendance as being held up by the city, with some questioning why the event had to be approved by the city before City Manager Kevin Anderson clarified that council approval is required for any event that reserves public spaces, like streets and parks, or requires additional police protection and/or traffic control. The special event permit primarily serves as a reservation to assure the group has exclusive, uninterrupted use of the public space during that period, not just permission. Without the permit, the space remains open to anyone, and the organizing group would have no right to exclude others.

Anderson emphasized that the permit is not about “any judgment” on the event’s subject but a formal necessity to coordinate assembly and reserve space. The process is handled the same way as other major events, including the Candlelight Christmas Parade, Under The Harvest Moon Festival and Michiana Pride Festival.

According to community members in attendance, a key source of public confusion was the lack of signatures from Anderson and council members on the event application. Anderson explained that a special event of this type requires City Council action. The application was placed on the agenda because it requires council approval and was submitted in between council meetings. Lyons stated that his signature is only a procedural formality that occurs after the council has officially taken action and approved the motion. He added it would be inappropriate for him to sign it before the council had acted.

The conversation ended with a public apology by one of the members in attendance, acknowledging a “miscommunication” and misunderstanding of the city’s procedures. 

Mayor Lyons thanked the citizen for the apology.

“We appreciate that because we do try hard.”