The Pembroke Pig Pickin’ festival has officially been added to the city’s calendar of events, slated for Oct. 11 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., after unanimous City Council approval Monday night.

Councilmember Johnnie Miller made the motion to approve the event and Angela Reed and Doug Kangeter voted unanimously in favor of it. Councilmembers Tony Greeson and Tiffany Walraven were absent from the meeting.

"I made the motion because we stopped having the balloon festival and we didn’t have any kind of big annual event," Miller said. "I thought that was something we needed to do for the community."

Theater and Arts Board Vice President Mindy Boyette and Secretary Rhetta Gibson went before the council to present the request.

"We will be featuring barbeque, a variety of professional bands and basically everything you’d find at a good old fashioned country fair. There will also be Pig Olympics, with sack races, horse shoes, wheel barrow races and more," Boyette said. "It is going to be a day for families to come out to Pembroke and have fun."

All funds raised during the Pig Pickin’ will go toward the renovations of the historic Tos Theater in downtown Pembroke, Boyette said.

Miller pointed out, in years past, the balloon festival left the North Bryan Chamber of Commerce "almost in the hole," with outside vendors taking away all the profits. He feels the Pig Pickin’ festival is a better alternative.

"The Pig Pickin’ festival will leave all the money right here in the community and help benefit the historical theater and some other projects the city has been working on," he said. "I think it will greatly benefit the city and bring in a variety of entertainment for everyone in the community to enjoy."

Kangeter said despite the festival’s "funny name," he’s heard good things about it.

"I hope it turns out well. It’s something Ms. Reed had come up with," he said. "It sounds like they’re going to try to get some good entertainment to come in; hopefully it’ll turn into something big for Pembroke."

The event committee is currently seeking sponsorships, volunteers, vendors and exhibits. To find out more or to get involved, community members are encouraged to call 653-5554.

In other business:

- North Bryan Chamber of Commerce President Mary Warnell updated the council on Chamber activities, noting they now have 71 members, eight of which are individual members and 63 are businesses. They mailed out 200 letters and are hoping for more companies to join the organization this year.

Warnell also said the organization has more than $5,000 in their treasury for the fiscal year and they hope to move into an office space in the Welcome Center.

- The Chamber is having a planning meeting Wednesday to discuss programs, activities and events for 2009, open to Chamber members as well as members of the community, at the Black Creek Golf Club starting at 11:30 a.m. To make a reservation, call Warnell at 653-2244.

- Cindy Milloy, of the American Legion Auxiliary, asked the council for permission to use the J. Dixie Harn Community Center for a Sunday Tea Party Sept. 14. The council approved to waive the rental fee and granted the Auxiliary permission to use the facility. Milloy also requested permission to use the downtown area of Pembroke, near the flag display behind the police department, for a Veterans Day Ceremony and Celebration Nov. 8, which was approved.

- The council held a first reading of the code amendment to the Hospital Authority, changing the term lengths from six year commitments to three years, with the ability to hold consecutive terms.

- The council unanimously voted to waive the first part of the Community Agenda Resolution of Submittal for the updated Comprehensive Plan. City Clerk Betty Hill pointed out the Comprehensive plan is on file at City Hall and that the public is welcome to view it.

- The council approved a request from Pembroke Police Chief Bill Collins to raise the base fine rate by $5, with the exception of fines set by law.

- The council voted unanimously to waive the first reading of the new Outdoor Watering Ordinance. According to City Planner Wynn Carney, the ordinance is mandated by the Environmental Protection Division. The ordinance also is on file at City Hall for public viewing.

- During committee reports, Human Resource Committee Johnnie Miller and Angela Reed requested that the City Clerk look into hiring a City Manager or City Administrator and report back to the committee.

- Before adjourning, Mayor Judy Cook announced a workshop scheduled for Thursday night at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.