Council agrees to foot part of the cost to install and light flag pole
By Kellen Olshefski
SLN Staff
The City of Elkhorn Common Council voted 5-0 in favor of a motion to approve assisting the Elkhorn Youth Soccer Club financially, covering 50 percent of the cost of installing and lighting a flagpole at the Rotary Park soccer fields. These flagpoles add an essence of patriotism to an area and also a sense of community and togetherness. It is also an appealing addition to any public area as it is classy and attractive.
Alderman Scott McClory was unable to attend Monday’s meeting.
Rotary Park is used by the Elkhorn Youth Soccer Club, Elkhorn Parks and Recreation programs and a new lacrosse club the soccer club is working with.
The topic was first brought up at the April 25 City of Elkhorn Finance and Judicial Committee meeting and the committee voted in favor of a motion to recommend the council approve covering 50 percent of the installation and lighting cost for the flagpole.
At the committee level, McClory, chairman of the committee, said the club had already garnered a portion of the funds to put up the lighted flag pole, though was looking for a little help from the city to complete the project.
Elkhorn Youth Soccer Club President Mike Recklies said they had approached former Mayor Brian Olson about putting up a flagpole, who at that time told them to pull together the funding and bring it before the city. Recklies said when the club garnered enough to cover the $2,000 flagpole – not including the base – he sent an email to City Administrator Sam Tapson, looking to bring the topic before the city’s elected officials.
Recklies said at the committee meeting the club had secured donations from area veterans organizations and the Elkhorn Rotary Club. While the club itself has funds, Recklies said with changes coming down from U.S. Soccer, the club is facing about an $8,000 investment in new equipment for the upcoming fall.
“So, our cash is kind of earmarked for new goals and equipment with these implementations,” he said.
Recklies said what the club was looking for from the city was to cover the cost of the base and lighting for the flag.
Tapson said at that meeting he feels the city would be best off letting the company install the flag, that way if problems arise, it wouldn’t be on the city to fix.
With about $500 for the base, Recklies said as an estimation the club wouldn’t be looking for anymore than $1,000 from the city.
Recklies said the club would like to place the flag near the concession stand and play area.
Recklies said the flagpole itself is a 30-foot halyard flagpole, meaning the rope used to raise the flag is not exposed and there wouldn’t be a worry about children grabbing the rope or cutting it. Additionally, being an internal system, Recklies said the maintenance on the cable is every ten years, compared to every year with an external system.
As for lighting the flag, concerns were expressed about city ordinances prohibiting lighting 24-hours a day, though Tapson said because the flag is required to be illuminated, it’s something the city could work around.
He said the biggest concern would be the city’s dark sky ordinance, though options could include lighting the flag from the top down or using some sort of a diffused lighting system.
Recklies said under the U.S. Flag Code, if flags are going to be illuminated 24-hours a day, it should only be enough to make people aware of the flag’s presence.
“So, it coincides with the city ordinance, they just don’t want it overbearing,” he said.
Recklies said the lighting the club was quoted for by the flag company was a bit expensive and the club was hoping through the city’s purchasing channels it might be able to find something a little more feasible.
Tapson said at that time if the flagpole was approved, he would work with Elkhorn Utilities Director to find a low intensity lighting for the flag. Likewise, the city’s electrical utility could handle the installation of the lighting.
Recklies also noted in placing the flagpole by the shed, it would allow the club to possibly mount the lighting on the concession stand rather than having to dig up more ground for electrical work.
The motion made by Alderman Tom Myrin was to cover half of the cost of the installation and half of the light.
