Common Council approves Fall Ride Thunder Parade permit
By Jalen Maki
Tomahawk Leader Co-Editor
TOMAHAWK – The City of Tomahawk Common Council approved Tomahawk Main Street Inc.’s special event permit for the Fall Ride Thunder Parade scheduled for Friday, Sept. 18, 2020, with a 6 to 3 vote at its meeting on Tuesday, June 2, the same day the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) announced it had cancelled its Fall Ride events at SARA Park due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Common Council approved Main Street’s permit application for Fall Ride festivities downtown at its March meeting.
Main Street Director Aimee Dickrell said the group is planning events downtown despite MDA cancelling their portion of the Fall Ride festivities at SARA Park.
“As we continue to plan, we will update the community as to what other decisions we will be faced with and ultimately make on our portion,” she stated.
Council members discussed the impact COVID-19 safety recommendations could have on the event. Dickrell said Main Street is working to follow safety recommendations from the Lincoln County Health Department and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
District 2 alderperson Jeff Kahle pointed out that recommendations in June could be different than those in September.
“Knowing we’re 100 days out, those (recommendations) could change drastically. We are going forward, and we will to continue to adapt as need be as we get closer to the event timeframe,” Dickrell said.
Numerous council members suggested delaying the vote on the Thunder Parade permit until July to have a better idea of what COVID-19 recommendations will be in September, but the council ultimately voted 6 to 3 to approve the permit, with Kahle, District 1 alderpersons Ed Nystrom and Patricia E. Haskin, District 2 alderpersons Will Garske and Dale Ernst, and District 3 alderperson Tadd Wegener in favor. District 1 alderperson Mickey Loka and District 3 alderpersons Steve “Ding” Bartz and Mike Loka were opposed.
Tomahawk Fall Ride is scheduled for Sept. 17 through Sept. 20, 2020.