‘It’s definitely sad’

A Galesville business may not be hosting its annual Christmas event because it does not have a space to hold said event after the city council voted to deny them use of the city shop.

The council voted against allowing Jake Halama of Galesville business Jake’s Moving and Storage to hold its fourth annual “Christmas Extravaganza Event” at the city shop building.

The event will not take place as scheduled on Dec. 2 because of the council’s denial, Halama wrote in a Facebook post last Friday. The event was held at the city shop last year.

“It is with a heavy heart that we inform the community that we will not be hosting our annual Christmas Extravaganza Event,” Halama wrote in a post on the company’s Facebook page. 

“Due to the amount of people the event brings in we do not have another space large enough to hold 500+ people,” the post continues later. “We are sad not to host such a wonderful event for families and children that was free to the public. Please vote for city board members that want to see a community grow and thrive.”

A motion by council member Tory-Kale Schulz to allow the event at the city shop was seconded by fellow council member Dave Carlson but failed after Mayor Vince Howe made the final call that the event needed a new home when the council tied 3-3 on the decision.

Howe did not return a call from the Times on Friday regarding his reasons for denying the permit.

Kelly Kreger, Jean Wallner and Tom Thatcher voted against having the event at the city shop, which was slated for Dec. 2.

Thatcher told the council that the city charges money for other community members to hold events in city buildings, and allowing the free use of the space could create an issue regarding fair processes.

“I’m concerned that this is opening up a process that anyone could ask for this and we would not be able to say no because we’ve set precedent for saying yes to you,” Thatcher told the council last Thursday. “I don’t want anything personal, but I just am looking out for the city. The city does take time to clean up, move the trucks out. Then after the event is done there’s work to do. It’s not free for the city, and that’s the purpose for charging some amount of money.”

Wallner recommended possibly using a school district building for the event or the fairgrounds.

Schulz said on Thursday that the city has already set the precedent for using the space after allowing the event last year. Councilor Diane Redsten joined Schulz and Carlson with votes in favor of the event at the city shop.

“I would say on the idea of a precedent, we already set that precedent last year. We already let it happen. So, the precedent has already been set. As far as setting a cost to do it, that would be a conversation because that’s not written down anywhere,” Schulz said.

Carlson said he agreed with Thatcher that the space should be paid for and asked Thatcher if he wanted to add a fee to the motion that allowed use of the city hall. Thatcher declined to add a fee.

“I love the idea that we’re bringing this many people together to do an event,” Schulz told Halama last week. “I applaud all the success you had last year. and I think it’s great what you’re doing. Thank you.”

Both Carlson and Schulz told Halama that he should bring the idea back to the council in the future, but Howe told them that the shop is no longer an option for 2023 after last week’s vote. 

Attorney Bruce Hart did correct Howe to say a council member could ask for reconsideration of the item.

Halama said he still hopes to host the event and is actively seeking another space, preferably in Galesville. He is disappointed in the decision to block the use of the city shop, he told the Times on Friday.

“It’s definitely sad that we can’t provide something for free to the community,” Halama said.

“It’s all free. We pay for everything. We bring in Santa and free pictures, so people have been making this a staple. Like, we go cut our Christmas tree down and then we come get pictures with Santa professionally and they can do it early enough where they can still use that picture for their Christmas card.”

Those who may have a heated space usable for the event can call Halama’s business at 715-530-0422 or reach out on Facebook.