Contract would create more permanent home for team, open doors to grant opportunities
By Kellen Olshefski
SLN Staff
In the spirit of working together, the City of Elkhorn Common Council voted last week in favor of directing staff to draft a multi-year contract that would allow the Lauderdale Aqua Skiers to continue shows on Elkhorn Lake at Babe Mann Park.
Prior to April 4, the contract between the city and ski club was set for a yearly renewal, however, with new grant opportunities, the city opted to look at different possibilities in the upcoming years.
Ken Reynolds of the Lauderdale Aqua Skiers said Monday night said the club thinks it’s a great site, though in looking to apply for grant money, they would need it to be more of a permanent home. Reynolds said Monday night the Wisconsin Water Ski Federation gives grant money to teams, however, it won’t give money to a team unless it has a permanent site.
“So, we have to prove to them we have a home, somewhere we can call home,” Reynolds said.
Reynolds said the club would like to have at least a 5-year agreement with the city, as from their understanding, the grant indicates a permanent home of 5 to 10 years.
“We understand right now a 10-year commitment, even on our end, is a lot, and for the city as well,” he said. “But it just gives us a better chance at getting some grant monies.”
As for the use of the grant money, Reynolds said all money would go to the approval of the site.
So far, he said the site has been a great site for the team so far, noting it had about 400 people attend its end of the year show last year.
“This year, we’re hoping for some of those same results,” he said.
Reynolds said the club is also working with city organizations, including the city and Elkhorn Area Chamber of Commerce, to engage Elkhorn citizens through events and more.
He said if the club were able to hold a statewide tournament at Elkhorn Park, it could bring thousands of people into the city, in turn bringing revenue city businesses.
Looking at options, City Attorney Ward Phillips said he thinks the easiest option would be to draft a perpetual contract that would include a way for the city to opt out at any point in time.
City Administrator Sam Tapson suggested something like creating a contract that offers a base of three years and then rolls over each year after, while giving the city an option to sever the contract with a years notice, or something along those lines.
With the club operating under an events permit at the lake last year rather than a contract, Tapson said it would make sense the club would still submit an events permit application, possibly without any fees outside of those specified by the contract, to keep the city informed of when the club would be on the lake and if they might need any city services, such as police or emergency personnel. Under this method, the city would continue to have an understanding of the club’s schedule for the upcoming season.
Alderman Scott McClory said, going a step further, this would be a benefit if the city were to open up the lake to swimming and other activities again in the future, noting the general public would then be well-informed of when the lake would be in use by the ski team and could clear the lake.
A motion to draft a perpetual contract by Alderman Hoss Rehberg was approved unanimously by the council.
