By Michael S. Hoey
Correspondent
The Delavan Town Board approved an agreement May 17 that will allow Lakeside Bait and Tackle to rent canoes and kayaks to customers at Community Park.
Tackle shop owner John Mikrut proposed the plan to the town saying in a letter to the Park and Recreation Committee that he wanted permission to put a canoe and kayak rack on the Community Park grounds near the beach and close to the water. The rack will hold up to six boats. Customers would fill out a rental agreement and liability waiver in the store at 3542 Highway 50 and receive a key for the padlock that would give them access to a boat, life jacket and paddles. Rental fees would be $10 for two hours and $25 for the entire day.
The park would not be responsible for renting the boats or any damage to or theft of the boats. Mikrut said he has full liability insurance coverage. Rentals began immediately and Mikrut said he would remove the boats by Oct. 1.
Mikrut proposed paying a yearly fee of $50 per boat instead of the usual $85 but to also give the town $1 per two-hour rental and $2 for each all-day rental. Mikrut paid the $300 to cover the initial fee up front and will pay the town’s portion of the rental fees bi-weekly.
“I have been an avid supporter of Town of Delavan organizations since opening my business, including donating bait and tackle for the kids free fishing weekend hosted at your park each June,” Mikrut wrote in his letter. “I see it as an advantage to all when community partners can work together.”
Supervisor Chris Marsicano said he and the committee saw no downside to the agreement for the town and said it would add another attraction to the park without costing the town anything.
“It is a great opportunity for us to try this out and use as an example for the future,” Chairman Ryan Simons said. “It is nice to have a town business owner come forward with a business opportunity.”
“Hopefully it works out to be mutually beneficial for both partners,” Marsicano said.
Treasurer position
The board approved making the position of treasurer an appointed post as opposed to a contract position. Laura Duchemin has held the position since June 2008 and was appointed by the board to the new position.
Administrator John Olson said the board simply preferred the appointment model to the contract model. He also said the board could have set term lengths at three years but chose to make it two years so the appointment can continue to be made on alternate years with the appointment of the town clerk position held by Dixie Bernstein.
Park rentals
The board passed a resolution that will provide discounts to town residents for renting space at Community Park. Marsicano said a resident presented the idea at the annual meeting, and he said residents receiving discounts makes sense.
The resolution states that non-residents should pay higher rates as they do not pay local property taxes. The discount for residents was set at 15 percent for all town residents or property owners.
Swimming pool covers
The board approved an ordinance that allows pool owners to safeguard their pools with self-closing self-latching automatic pool covers. Previously pool owners were required to put a fence around a yard with a pool.
