Politics & Government

North Gratiot Cruise Rolls on Without Chesterfield Township Sponsorship

Chesterfield Township Supervisor Michael Lovelock withdrew community sponsorship due to liability concerns. The cruise is slated to take place again this year.

The North Gratiot Cruise is driving forward without Chesterfield Township's sponsorship or name affiliation.

Supervisor Michael Lovelock recommended Tuesday night that the township discontinue sponsorship of the popular cruise.

"If we don't sponsor it, we don't have any liability for this cruise," Lovelock told the Board of Trustees. "That's why I'm recommending we take our name off it."

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The board majority, however, approved the cruise for 2013 and authorized township departments to invoice the cruise committee for any costs associated with the event, such as extra police presence.

Cruise spokesman John Johnson said the township's move not to associate its name or sponsor it will not prevent the event from taking place.

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"As long as we can still have our cruise, we're fine with that," Johnson said. "We think the cruise is going to continue to grow this year."

Additionally, he noted that since the last K-9 dog retired at the end of 2012, the money previously raised for the K-9 unit would be earmarked for unspecific police department needs.

"We designated that we would continue to designate our fund to the police department for projects that they see fit," he said.

Former Trustee Michele Ficht noted that the township never was an official sponsor for the cruise last year.

"As I recall, we never did a sponsorship. We approved and supported the cruise," Ficht said.

The Tuesday vote would mean the township would allow the cruise to function separately from the community and would not have Chesterfield Township in its title, Lovelock said.


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