Ligonier Country Market proposes borough as new host

The Ligonier Country Market has proposed shifting its regular event from a 9.6-acre Loyalhanna Watershed Association property to downtown Ligonier Borough.

The Country Market — launched about 50 years ago — has been held on the watershed association’s property off of Route 30 in Ligonier Township for the past 25 years. The vendor showcase, which runs through the spring, summer and fall, draws thousands of visitors each year.

Borough council President Jordan Frei said Mayor Tom Freeman and council Vice President Carol Barton are working with market officials to determine the feasibility of hosting the event downtown.

Frei is unsure the borough would be able to manage vehicle traffic from several thousand visitors every weekend.

“I think it’s better for all involved that the event remain where it is,” Frei said. “But that being said, the business community relies heavily on that foot traffic. You want to give it fair consideration.”

The watershed association is willing to negotiate with the market, said association Executive Director Susan Huba.

“We’re still willing to host them here and work on addressing our concerns and meeting somewhere in the middle,” she said. “But if they’re looking to go to the borough, that’s great for them too.”

A dispute was sparked between the market and its landlord last month, after Ligonier Township supervisors issued special event permits on Jan. 5.

The watershed association said it terminated the market’s lease Jan. 23 — which the nonprofit argues invalidates the permits. Officials for the market contend the lease is still in place and valid until December 2027 in the absence of a judicial determination.

Township supervisors held off voting Jan. 27 on whether to overturn the permits, encouraging watershed association and market officials to sort out the lease disagreement on their own. Market and watershed association officials have previously expressed a desire to rekindle their relationship.

Market Director Kelly Svesnik, who did not immediately reply to requests for comment Thursday, said in an email to vendors last month a potential new location for the event had been identified. She did not name the location.

More on the country market

Council president expresses concerns

Market officials contacted Ligonier Borough council ahead of its Feb. 12 meeting about hosting the event along the municipality’s East and West Main streets, according to Frei.

The market’s proposal would restrict vendors from setting up along Main Street between its intersections with North St. Clair and North Fairfield streets — also known as the Diamond, Frei said.

Council did not take any action on the proposal, Frei said, but voted to hire Avolio Law Group on an as-needed basis to handle market matters. Borough solicitor Mark Sorice is the attorney for the market.

Market officials respond to new lease

The environmental organization presented to the market on Oct. 29 a new lease — updated following a modification to the market’s opening date last year. It was never signed, Huba said.

Svesnik told TribLive last month that market organizers began looking for a new location out of concern that the lease changes would negative impact the event’s operation.

The new lease accounted for updated market dates, reduced vendor spaces to 75, removed the option for a holiday market in November, encouraged a “rain cancellation policy” and required half of all vendors to consist of agricultural producers who make, bake or grow their own products from local farmsteads.

The market responded to the new lease Feb. 12, said Huba, who declined to share details.

Ligonier Borough Council will next meet at 7 p.m. March 12 at the Ligonier Town Hall, located at 120 E. Main Street in the borough.