If the marathon organizers agreed to compensate the town for use of its roads, however, Mitchell said he could change his mind, according to Wiscnews.com.
At a subsequent town meeting on July 28, marathon organizers, local tourism proponents and supporters urged the board to approve a new ordinance for special events and issue a permit for the marathon. The board postponed taking action on either issue.
An ordinance was drafted that would charge a permit fee of $10 for events involving less than 50 vehicles or bicycles or 200 pedestrian participants and up to $500 for over 100 vehicles or 400 pedestrian participants.
The Wisconsin Dells Marathon and Half Marathon could bring 2,500 people, according Aaron Del Mar, owner of Adrenaline Sports Management (ASM) which is putting on the event.
The website reported that at the July 28 meeting, “Mitchell kept saying he wasn’t convinced the races would benefit Dell Prairie and that they would seem to be advantageous only for the city of Wisconsin Dells.”
Heidi Roekle, executive director of the Adams County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism, told the board the county has benefited economically from other events, such as the Great Annual Bicycle Adventure Along the Wisconsin River (GRABAAWR) and the Castle Rock Triathlon.
Chula Vista Resort owner Mike Kaminski said the marathon will bring thousands of people to the area, some of which will likely stay at his resort while others will camp at Holiday Shores Campground in Dell Prairie.
Mitchell previously complained that the planned marathon would inconvenience the public and possibly open the town up to liability if runners are injured on town roads. Del Mar said the event would not close local roads for long. He said ASM has liability insurance through USA Track and Field of Wisconsin and two to four ambulances and possibly St. Clare Hospital personnel would be on the course.
ASM event director Bryan Ganek said he was prepared to pay both the Adams County Sheriff’s Department for help directing traffic and the town of Dell Prairie for use of the roads, the website reported.
But if the town won’t issue a permit, the marathon won’t happen. “There’s nowhere else to do it,” Ganek told the website.
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