Salmon Showdown returns for a second year; increased exposure should benefit town
The Great Lakes Professional Angling Association once again will be hosting the Salmon Showdown in Rogers City, after members of the city council gave their formal approval. The dates are August 20-22. Last year was the first year for the event and officials in Rogers City were pleased with the way the it went.
?I think that everybody I talked to has been highly complimentary of your professionalism,? said mayor Beach Hall. ?I have not heard any negative comments whatsoever.? Brian Kuhr represented the group at Monday?s council meeting to give a brief presentation and answer questions. With Rogers City approving the request, four of five communities have made commitments to hosting the anglers this year.
KUHR SAID the tournament should provide increased exposure for Rogers City. ?We are looking to expand to Lake Michigan, so hopefully we?ll be bringing some anglers from Lake Michigan over to Rogers City this year,? said Kuhr. The group also has been working with Great Lakes Anglers Magazine, which is going to be providing updates on the tournament at the different locations. The magazine has a subscription base of about 38,000. Kuhr said his organization is attempting to get increased television exposure, but nothing is definitive. The actual fishing days of the tournament will be August 21 and 22, with a captains? meeting Friday, August 20. The tournament is not open to the public; anglers must qualify at a regional event to fish.
THE MAXIMUM amount of boats allowed to participate has changed from a year ago as 40 boats, 20 in the amateur division and 20 in the professional division, will be involved in 2004. ?That?s half of what we had projected last year,? Kuhr said. In the GLPAA?s letter to council, Kuhr states their interest in having local groups get involved in selling items during the tournament and having local high school sports teams assist with the event for a donation. ?We also have been in contact with organizations at each port involved with fish restocking programs,? Kuhr states. ?Also we will leave the area that is used better than we found it.? The group, as a part of their request, received approval to use the Lakeside Park bandshell, as well.
IN OTHER MATTERS to come before council:
? Council approved a contract for the Central Reservation System with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The last two years city officials have been working with the state in an attempt to increase the number of seasonal slips at the marina. ?Starting a year and a half ago the state required that any changes to the existing state/city contract included going on the Central Reservation System,? Hall said. Joining the reservation system was a condition placed by the Waterways Commission when it approved the city?s request for an additional 20 seasonal slips. All the cities on the Lake Huron shoreline, Hall believes, were on the system as of Monday with the exception of Rogers City. The contract was a standard agreement used by the DNR and was reviewed by city attorney Mike Vogler.
? Seasonal and transient docking rates for the 2004 boating season, which are unchanged for the third year, received council approval.
? Meeting dates and times will remain the first and third Monday of the month but with a change in the time of the morning meeting through March. To accommodate new councilman Patrick Lamb?s work sc
? City manager John Bruning reminded council that two city employees will be retiring in the first five months of the year. Paul Warwick, assistant to the engineer, will be retiring in February, while water superintendent Ron Krawczak will be leaving in May. ?Two essential positions,? said Bruning. ?They each fill a valuable role. I hope to get somebody on staff to start learning the ropes as soon as possible.?
? Councilman Jim Sinclair was elected mayor pro-tem, which is a two-year term.