Partnership would increase lake access, number of shows
By Kellen Olshefski
Correspondent
The City of Elkhorn is working on a partnership with the Southern Wakes United ski team that will provide the team with increased access to Babe Mann Park for practice and shows, and aims to bring more business to Elkhorn.
The Southern Wakes United ski team is a non-profit organization that is a merger of the Lauderdale Aqua Skiers and Whitewater Lake Sports Club (Minneiska) ski teams. The combined team looks to continue its use of Elkhorn Lake in Babe Mann Park.
The City of Elkhorn Park and Recreation Board met with representatives of the skit team at its March 10 meeting. As a result of that discussion, the board recommended a partnership that would provide the ski team with 18 weekday and eight weekend (daytime) uses of the park, the elimination of permit fees and a partnership that would include the coordination of two tournaments with proceeds going to the City of Elkhorn.
Also recommended would be to highlight the partnership on a full page in the Southern Wakes United Yearly Magazine as well as having future discussions to perhaps add a fee for tournaments and parking as revenue generators for the city and the ski team.
According to Southern Wakes United Treasurer Maria Steckler, the advertising package highlighting the partnership with the City of Elkhorn as a major sponsor is worth $2,000 and is an all-encompassing package that not only includes the page in the magazine, but also the ski team’s trailer, which travels around the area with the team and also to the state tournament in Wisconsin Rapids. Steckler said the $2,000 is what they normally charge top sponsors for the advertising package.
In addition, Steckler noted the proposed tournaments could bring in upwards of $600 each, depending on how many attendees are at the tournaments.
Currently, city ordinances require a $2,500 fee for a seasonal permit, and includes a limit of a maximum of six weekend dates and three weekday evenings each week during the season for a total of 18 weekday evenings.
“When we sat down with our board, we came up with a total that would actually give about the same value, or sum in dollars, back to the city to replace that fee,” Steckler said.
Because the fees are built into the ordinance, however, City Administrator Jim Heilman said the fees cannot simply be waived with the way the ordinance is currently structured.
City Attorney Ward Phillips said the section outlining the permit fees does not currently allow an exception, noting that the council would need to modify the ordinance to give the council some discretion when it comes to waiving or requiring permit fees.
Mayor Bruce Lechner said he personally would like to see the council do whatever is needed to make the partnership a possibility between the city and the ski team.
“I think it’s a good thing coming to the city. I think it’ll bring some people and I think it could be a good relationship down the road,” Lechner said.
Alderman Tom Myrin agreed, explaining any group that brings more exposure and people to Elkhorn, along with more revenue for local businesses, is a good thing for the city. He also said he regularly attends summer ski shows in Tomahawk.
“They pull people in like crazy up there. They have built in stands into the side of the banks, they have a big concession area, and there’s always 300 to 400 people at the very least. They pack them in,” Myrin said.
“For us to charge money, I think, would be a disservice to encourage them to have these events. I would be in favor of trying to figure out a way where we could do that or build that into the ordinance,” he added.
The council voted unanimously in favor of directing Phillips to pencil an update to the ordinance and have a draft ready for approval at the council’s next meeting later this month.
