Norfolk Daily News

Tuesday – April 15, 2008

Uneven Slope, Soft Ground Caus Problems for Shows

City officials will consider grading a staging area at Skyview Lake for the Christian Cross Festival and Big Bang Boom fireworks display.

Representatives from those two groups asked the city’s finance committee on Monday to look into constructing a flat surface to accommodate four semi-trailers and a temporary stage area plus an access road.

City council members informally agreed to personally take a look this week at the area, which has been marked off where the groups now put up temporary stages for their events on the north side of the lake.

Brett Simonsen, representing the Christian Cross Festival, said the uneven grassy area where bands set up causes problems with leveling semi-trailers that are jacked up for a stage. The soft ground also causes problems with trailers getting stuck.

The groups would like the area constructed before June 1 in time for the shows.

Councilman Dave Fauss suggested the groups contact Nucor Steel to see if it would be interested in contributing the slag to surface the area. The city would just have grading costs if it received the donation, he said.

Don Wisnieski, representing Big Bang Boom, said the groups would contact the company. Wisnieski also asked the city to come up with estimates for what the improvement might cost and to contribute the work.

Mike Nolan, city administrator, asked the event organizers to consider contributing some of the event entrance fees to help with the cost.

Council members generally favored having the work done.

“These are great events. We want to support them in some way,’’ said councilman Ivan Van Dyke.

Eventually, the groups would like to see a permanent stage constructed by the city.

Simonsen said a future phase would involve discussion about building a permanent stage that could be used for performing arts, extending electrical service and enclosing the stage with a canopy or shell.

A memo signed by four city staff members recommended that the two shows continue to meet their stage needs with the use of portable facilities and not a permanent stage.

“While we support with appropriate insurance coverage the two existing events, we do not think it is wise to install additional permanent structures encouraging the expansion of these types of activities at Skyview Park,’’ the memo said.

The memo was from Nolan, Public Works Director Dennis Smith, Operations Manager Gary Miller and Park Superintendent Pat Mrsny.

Should the council wish to pursue a permanent stage, however, issues to be considered include public safety and risk management, engineering plans, aesthetics and funding, the memo said.

In other action, the committee agreed to waive the $2 bicycle licensing fee as part of the Landon Bos Memorial Bike Rodeo planned May 31 by businesses and agencies, including the Norfolk Police Division. Bos died in a car-pedestrian accident last summer. His mother is an emergency room nurse at Faith Regional Health Services, and his father is a police investigator.

The committee also decided to post photos of council members and the mayor, as well as their e-mail addresses, on the city’s Web site.

The committee adjourned into executive session to discuss litigation.