FREMONT, Ohio — An annual tradition that has rolled through Fremont for seven years has now been canceled after a local business owner threatened legal action.
Mike Dukeshire, the event coordinator for the Cruisin State Street Car Show, never wanted to pull the plug on the event that has run for seven years, especially since proceeds raised in the show went to good causes.
"100% of the proceeds to this went to charities, local charities," Dukeshire said. "Every year we'd pick a different charity. One year we bought a K9 dog for the Fremont police, the Boy Scouts benefitted from it, the Rotary club, just to name a few."
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But Dukeshire says Fremont business owner Tom Kern expressed concerns over past nuisances during shows.
Fremont Mayor Danny Sanchez says he's heard complaints of cars speeding, blocking traffic and doing burnouts in recent years.
Dukeshire argues there have only been five issues in seven years, though. But, it was enough for Kern to threaten a lawsuit. So, organizers hit the brakes.
"His (Kern's) concerns were our concerns, but we can't be threatened with a class-action lawsuit," Dukeshire said. "That's not good for our sponsors, that's not good for us, for our community and that's not why we were doing this."
Sanchez says the event served as a way to raise money and bring the community together.
"They've basically been all volunteer-driven and how the event turned into an opportunity to support non-profit efforts across the city and the community, so there's definitely going to be some impact in the community," he said.
Dukeshire hopes peace can be made soon.
"We're still waiting for the phone call from city leaders or from Mr. Kern or anybody to say 'let's sit down at the table and let's roll with it," he said.
WTOL 11 spoke with both Dukeshire and Sanchez at Fremont City Council's meeting Thursday night.
Kern was at the meeting too, but declined to comment on the situation.