June 2, 2026 9:10p
(WGTD)---The owner of the management company that's been given credit for revitalizing operations at the City of Racine-owned Festival and Memorial halls says he won't sign a contract extension as offered.
Patrick Flynn of 5K Events delivered the news during the citizen comments portion of Tuesday night's city council meeting.
Racine's contract with Flynn expired at the end of last year. Flynn and city officials have traded accusations over who's responsible for the delay in reaching an agreement on a new one.
At the end of a nearly three hour-long city council meeting last week, alders voted unanimously to issue a contract extension through the end of next year, with the hope that any disagreements and lingering resentment could be resolved amicably over time.
At Tuesday's council meeting, Flynn said flatly that he won't sign the extension until the city's sign ordinance is modified and the city agrees to cover any utility costs in the event that a $200,000 annual city subsidy is drained. Flynn also wants to modify language that he says would require him to absorb any losses that might occur.
Mayor Mason has said in the past that the city can't issue a blank check.
At the end of Tuesday night's meeting, Alder Sandy Weidner called the disagreement a "contract in crisis" that needs to be addressed immediately. Mason, who usually presides over council meetings, was absent.
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