Village Board approves Cycling Classic
By Tracy Ouellette
SLN Staff
The East Troy Village Board gave the go ahead for next year’s East Troy Cycling Classic, but it wasn’t without debate.
East Troy Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Vanessa Lenz addressed the board members Monday night and gave a presentation about the benefits of the annual bike race, which is entering its sixth year.
The race is part of the Tour of America’s Dairyland and will return to East Troy on Friday, June 16, 2017.
Village Board President Randy Timms said he wanted to see the race continue in East Troy, but would like to see the race taken off the village square and possibly moved over to the school campus on Graydon Avenue. He said he knew of at least eight businesses on the square that were “frustrated” with their ability to operate on race day and the board had received one letter from Realty Executives about how the race made it difficult for them to do business that day.
“Maybe we’ve worn out our welcome on the square,” Timms said.
At this point, Timms motioned for the chamber to return to the board at a latter date with a different plan and location for the race.
Trustee Ann Zess requested the chamber be allowed to give its presentation before a vote was taken and questioned the reasoning of moving the race off the square when it is the village square the village has branded and promotes as its central location.
“People are so excited to see these events,” Zess said.
Trustee Dusty Stanford said he also wanted the race to stay in East Troy and commended the chamber on its community events throughout the year.
“You do wonderful with the events on the square,” Stanford said. “But none of the event close off the square like this.”
He went on to say the board owed it to the business owners and residents on the square to look at other locations.
The board discussed the issue at length and voted twice, the first time to have the chamber come back with a different proposal, which was voted down. The second vote, to accept the chamber’s proposal as presented passed.
For the full story, see this week’s edition of the East Troy Times/News.
