May 27, 2026 11p
(WGTD)---A draft news release announcing that 5K Events was pulling out of its agreement with the City of Racine to manage Festival and Memorial halls is apparently what prompted the city administrator to entertain a proposal from a potential alternative vendor.
The release—submitted to the city by 5K owner Patrick Flynn—was never issued publicly and apparently was written to put pressure on city officials during 5K’s negotiations on a new contract.
Still, word of the possible departure spread through the downtown community several weeks ago and reached Michael Godfrey, a principal of the Verdant hotel development firm Dominion Properties.
At a lengthy city council meeting this week on the matter, City Administrator Jim Sullivan defended his brief interaction with Godfrey. "At that point, all we had was the threat from Patrick Flynn to walk out at the very beginning of the season," Sullivan told the alders. "Faced with the threat of somebody walking out then if somebody else is going to come and say boy I think I can do that I'm going to say please put some numbers (together) so we can evaluate if that's worthwhile."
Sullivan said he has yet to look at what Godfrey submitted.
At Tuesday’s meeting, Alder Grace Allen criticized Sullivan’s exchange with Godfrey, saying it shouldn’t have occurred while the city was in negotiations with 5K.
At the end of the meeting, the council voted unanimously to extend 5K’s contract with the city through 2027.
After the meeting, Flynn said he planned to work to change the city’s sign ordinance that he says is hampering his ability to promote event sponsors. He also wants to talk more about the city’s insistence that 5K cover any losses under his management contract.
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