While many agree the vacant space at Wall and 1st street needs to be kept open as a “pocket park” the Eagle River city council last week discussed how the city could recover their quarter million dollars used to purchase and clean up the former gas station.
The Eagle River Revitalization Program (ERRP), as part of Main Street, has kept track of the public use of the area with director Martha Geiseman indicating over Memorial Day weekend the area was used by food and beverage vendors.
Geiseman said a small grant of $1,000 was applied for to bring permanent electrical service to the lot with the Eagle River Business Association to donate $1,000 for the electrical box and to pay for the monthly electrical charge.
More needs to be done and fund-raising ideas were explored “to present a more professional looking area” Geiseman wrote to the council.
Council member Jerry Burkett simply stated “I’m for keeping it (public) but the city can’t carry all the weight” adding there could be a way to “rent” the property from the city. He felt the Business Improvement District (BID) benefits most from the area rather than the general city taxpayers but “we need to figure out how this can be palatable for everybody.”
Several groups were identified as possible sources of assistance including Rotary, Lions, the Chamber of Commerce, BID, and the city. City administrator Robin Ginner indicated she was seeking a date to start a fundraising effort and create a plan for the site.
Most felt it was critical to have bathrooms at that end of the business district especially using the site for “husband dumping” as the wives go shopping. Council president Kim Schaffer wanted the end result to have the city get its money back “within ten years.”
This was the first year of public use with the addition of tables and the council wanted a site plan presented to them in September that “has to be workable to the city as a plus.” For now, the site has been delayed for private purchase.
