By Jalen Maki
Tomahawk Leader Editor
TOMAHAWK – The City of Tomahawk Common Council during Tuesday, Aug. 4 meeting voted 6 to 3 to waive the city’s open intoxicants ordinance between 11 a.m. and 11 p.m. on Sept. 18 and Sept. 19, the Friday and Saturday when the Thunder Parade and Downtown Tomahawk Veterans Fall Ride events were slated to take place. A motion to exclude open glass bottles from the ordinance waiver also passed.
The council also voted to approve a permit for the Pow Wow Days 5K and 10K races, rescheduled from 4th of July to Sept. 5.
Open intoxicants waiver
Although the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), Harley-Davidson and Tomahawk Main Street Inc. have all withdrawn their involvement with the annual motorcycle rally, numerous Tomahawk businesses are still planning events Fall Ride weekend, it was noted.
District 2 alderperson Will Garske said the goal of waiving the open intoxicants ordinance citywide was to “take the pressure off everybody gathering at a few bars and restaurants and allow people to be outside and allow for more social distancing.”
Tomahawk Police Chief Al Elvins concurred with Garske’s statement. He also said it will be the responsibility of establishments to decide how many patrons they want to allow inside their businesses Fall Ride weekend.
“We’re not going to police that aspect of it,” Elvins stated, noting that the Tomahawk Police Department will have assistance from other agencies, but “not to the same number as in years past.”
The chief said W. Wisconsin Ave. downtown will not be closed, but temporary four-way stop signs will be installed at the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Street intersections.
5K, 10K races
Pow Wow Days Committee members John Zulesdorf and Guy Kiser said in a plan provided to the council that there were 15 registrants for the rescheduled 5K and 10K races as of last week, and the Tomahawk High School cross country team was expected to account for an additional 30 runners.
“Even with a late stage advertising blitz, we are expecting less than 150 total participants in the event,” the plan stated.
The plan also explained that, in a pre-event mailing, organizers asked all participants to wear masks up until they start the race and all spectators to wear protective masks at all times while at Veterans Memorial Park, the races’ starting and ending point.
Spectators will be asked to only be present while their runner is racing, to leave immediately after they finish, and to practice social-distancing at all times.
Organizers plan to use “wave starts with 10 minute spread for the 5K participants (with no more than 50 per wave).” There will be no awards ceremony or awards passed out in the chute, and all awards will be mailed, the plan explained. There will be no communal food area or communal water trough for participants.
Organizers emphasized that the Tomahawk Lions Club is sponsoring the event and is carrying the insurance rider, and “other road races that have been successfully held (and are scheduled to be held) this summer north of Highway 29, using similar social distance guidelines.”
“Any guidelines set forth by the Lincoln County Health Department or local health leaders that are established after the approval of this event will be adhered to, including possible cancellation of the event,” the plan stated.
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