Eggy Celebration Pays Off

How successful was Egg Harbor’s August Eggstravaganza event that had 50 artists create 50 eggs for auction to celebrate the village’s 50th anniversary?

After the artists received their half of the auction money and the village was made whole on any expenses incurred, the village’s Public Arts Committee received $61,500 to purchase more public art for the village.

At the village board’s Oct. 13 monthly meeting, village trustee and Public Art committee chair TC Johnson said $15,000 of the Eggstravaganza revenue will be used to commission three permanent eggs from three of the most popular artists who took part in the Eggstravaganza.

The committee chose to commission Sally Everhardus, whose Screaming Turtle egg won the people’s choice award at the auction; Dave Reimer, creator of the moving sculpture Guard Duty; and the team of Kathy Mand Beck and Cynthia Board, creators of the beautiful mosaic egg Journey Into Sunset.

Johnson said the artists will receive $5,000 for each egg and the eggs will be similar to what the artists did for the Eggstravaganza event. They must submit deigns for approval to the Public Art Committee.

The remaining $46,500 of the event proceeds will be used to purchase some of the public art already in the village, Johnson said. The pieces and their cost are Egg Harbor Meadow by Judi Ekholm, which is displayed on the village hall, $10,000; Blue Sail by Rich Edelman, which is on display at the entrance to the village marina, $25,000; Sunset Melody by Kathy Mand Beck, Cynthia Board, Angela Lensch and Renee Schwaller, which is on display at the Peg Egan Center, $25,000; and Rooster (aka, The Father of Egg Harbor) by William Jauquet, which is on display in Harbor View Park, $18,000.

Trustee Bruce Hill suggested that since the committee does not have enough money to purchase all the works right now, it should be sure to include Blue Sails because it represents the marina so well, but Johnson responded that the decision what to buy will be made by the committee.

In other matters:

• After a great deal of discussion, the Board of Trustees voted to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Door County Community Foundation (DCCF) “to realize the vision for the Cowles Community Center.”

Under terms of the agreement, the DCCF will create the Cowles Community Center Fund, and all gifts intended for the community center/library will be managed by the DCCF. The cost for providing these services is three percent of the money raised. With a goal of $2.5 million, that would mean $75,000 for the DCCF.

“If it feels like we’re giving it away, it’s because we are. But that’s OK,” said Village Administrator Josh Van Lieshout. “They are going to provide the management and tracking of long-term gifts or pledges. They will help us dispose of unique gifts like land, stocks. Pick something else, a baseball card collection from the 1953 Yankees. They will provide all the necessary auditing and accounting services, and they will manage and release funds.”

Van Lieshout added that the DCCF can also serve as a resource for the Ask Team, the six individuals, including Van Lieshout, who are approaching potential donors to invest in the project. Having the DCCF will also give the project a reach “beyond our corporate borders,” Van Lieshout said.

Several trustees objected to the three percent payment, but Trustee Bob Dickson defended the plan.

“What if somebody gives a pledge over a 20-year time frame?” he said. “Do we want to manage that over 20 years, or do we let the Community Foundation manage it? That’s what they do. Let them do what they’re good at and let’s do what we’re good at.”

“Do you think having them involved would sway some large givers?” Trustee John Heller asked.

“I think it lends a level of credibility,” Van Lieshout answered. “We had the same discussion with the Ask team. ‘Geez, three percent’s a lot of money’.”

“So the Ask team’s on board?” Heller asked.

“They are,” Van Lieshout said. He added that it would work just like the successful campaign for the skatepark in Sturgeon Bay, with the DCCF managing the funds and the city hiring the contractors and paying the bills.

“That’s a good example. That’s a very successful project and a very worthy project,” Dickson said.

• Village President Joe Smith said the Plan Commission had several promising items on its next agenda, including possible expansion of the upper deck on Harborview Grill and a micro-dairy moving in next to the new Door County Trolley headquarters. Van Lieshout mentioned that the committee should also consider the disposition of the village’s one remaining liquor license. The acquisition fee for a liquor license from the village is $10,000, with an annual renewal fee of $500. “That’s a thing to keep out there, that we have a liquor license available,” Van Lieshout said. The next Plan Commission meeting is at noon on Oct. 21.

• Reporting for the Utility Committee, John Heller said a recent grease trap inspection resulted in failure for all commercial kitchens in the village but Shipwrecked, where Village President Joe Smith is the general manager. Heller said the village has offered to take over the grease trap testing.

He also reported that some bulk septic haulers might be underreporting what they bring to the village wastewater treatment. Income from haulers is at $200,000 a year, which means if the haulers are underreporting by just five or 10 percent, that amounts to $10,000 to $20,000 annually. He said a trip is planned to Sturgeon Bay to see their oversight system.

“Sounds like that project might have some payback,” Trustee Dickson said.

• Approved another five-year lease agreement with the United State Postal Service at the current $21,600 a year.

“We’re not going five more years at the same price,” said Dickson. “Fifteen years at the same price? What world are they living in?”

The board advised Village Administrator Josh Van Lieshout to prepare to negotiate a high lease rate when the current lease expires in 2019.