Calling it an agonizing decision, the Hutchinson City Council voted against providing $20,000 to help start a downtown street rod event.

Two weeks ago, promoters Dean Brigman, a former Hutchinson mayor, and Californian Jerry Regier asked the council to consider giving funds to kick-start planning.

It was predicted the weekend event would receive the bulk of its funds from corporate sponsorships.

"We need to be able to show the support from the city before we can go and seek sponsorships," Brigman told the council Tuesday.

Brigman said he envisioned an annual hot rod run would help Hutchinson's hotels and restaurants and especially downtown merchants - and act as a way to show off the city's newly completed streetscape project.

But one downtown property owner, Danny Brizendine, spoke out against the use of city funds, arguing that financial ruin was in the wind.

"In one year, we're going to be in a global recession," said Brizendine, who supported his claim by presenting a graph he had just drawn on a City Hall easel. "Motor homes and hot rods will not be able to help this town out."

Retired resident Wesley Oakley told the council he feared providing money to the hot rod run sent the wrong message.

"I don't think the people have any business subsidizing a private for-profit enterprise," Oakley said.

The council members, cautious in the wording of their statements, agreed.

"This was one that was hard, knowing Dean and what he stands for," councilman David Razo said. "But to me, it's the wrong time. We have some other issues that we have to take care of."

Vice Mayor Trish Rose said she worried about opening the door to every group wanting to hold a festival or an event, but said she supported providing city services - like police and fire - at no charge.

The council voted 4-1, with council member Bob Bush opposed, to provide city services but not funding.

After the meeting, Brigman said he wasn't sure how, or if, the hot rod event would continue, but that he planned to talk with Regier today about what step to take next.

"I wasn't at all surprised this morning," Brigman said. "I know this put them in a tough position."