Madison is close to signing a deal with a private security firm to help take tickets and guard stages for the Oct. 27 Freakfest"" Halloween celebration.
According to Mayor Dave Cieslewicz's spokesperson George Twigg, city officials have contacted R.T.M. event services out of West Allis to help police control Halloween on State Street. Twigg said private security is hired for two main reasons - providing assistance to police around the perimeter of the event and protecting the stages.
Last year, a private security company was hired by the city for the first time. Twigg said it did not end like he hoped, as the company hired did not provide adequate resources. He said payment issues arose as a result, which ultimately led to the city reportedly not paying the full contract.
""We didn't go through as extensive of screening process as we should have,"" Twigg said. ""We had a less than ideal result because of it.""
Still, Twigg said the city did a much better job this year of screening and decided R.T.M.'s track record and work with Frank Productions - one of Freakfest's sponsors - made the decision easier and the process smoother.
Dave Maynard of Frank Productions said R.T.M has helped with the company's events in the past, mainly serving as an aid to police. He said the two have worked together for several years and does not foresee any problems like last year's.
As for the final numbers, Twigg said the contract has not yet been finalized, but the money is allotted separately from the Madison Police Department.
Now that tickets have officially gone on sale, Twigg and Maynard said the contract should be finalized soon so strategies can be put in place. R.T.M. does not have the authority to arrest people but can direct police to problem partygoers.
