May 26, 2026 9:30p
(WGTD)---A thorny contract dispute between the City of Racine and 5K Events—the management company that’s been given credit for revitalizing city-owned Festival and Memorial halls—was taken up in a nearly three-hour-long city council meeting Tuesday night.
In the end, Mayor Cory Mason and the alders were unanimous in how to move forward. And 5K owner Patrick Flynn didn’t seem to be terribly disappointed in the outcome, either.
The council directed the city attorney to extend to Flynn a contract proposal that would run through the end of next year. "Whatever hiccups we have right now with the contractor that we currently have I think could be smoothed out over that period of time," said Alder Sandy Weidner, author of an amendment to extend the time frame. "There are a lot of hurt feelings out there. There are a lot of misconceptions."
Much of the meeting was taken up by City Attorney Scott Letteney, Finance Director Kathleen Fischer and City Administrator Jim Sullivan describing their involvement in the negotiations on a new contract with 5K that began in March, even though 5K's contract with the city expired at the end of the year.
After the meeting, 5K owner Flynn said he’ll push for a couple of adjustments, including some changes to the city’s sign ordinance that he says puts a crimp in his ability to promote event sponsors. "I think it can be done," he said.
Flynn also wants the city to delete a provision that calls on 5K to absorb any losses.
The city pays a $150,000 management fee to 5K and made available $151,000 this year to cover any losses. Flynn has said he expects 5K to make a profit for the city. The city also allocates $130,000 for capital improvements.
Flynn, who didn't directly address the council, found the meeting to be useful. "Everybody agrees that we need to move forward and I think we'll move forward."
The meeting was originally billed as a closed session but it wound up being open to the end.
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