Park and Rec OKs contracts with Pepsi, Coca-Cola

By KEVIN SWEENEY

Journal Editor

NEW ULM -- New Ulm Park and Recreation commissioners approved agreements with Coca-Cola and Pepsi bottlers to provide beverages for the city's recreational facilities.

The board forwarded the agreement o the New Ulm City Council for final approval.

The eight-year agreement gives vending rights to both the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Mankato and Pepsi-Cola of Mankato. The vendors will pay the city $25,000 each at the beginning of the agreement, and $1,000 a year afterwards.

The agreement also gives the bottling companies priority use of the scoreboards in the New Ulm Civic Center arenas, if the city decides to sell advertising space on them.

The city has already decided to sell advertising space on the arena walls facing the stands, and on the Zambonis that will service the ice rinks. The Park and Rec commissioners reviewed a survey of several area ice rinks to see how they handle Zamboni advertising. There are many different options, and Park and Rec Director Dave Bechtold will work on a report listing alternatives.

The survey showed different arenas had different options. Some sold yearly or two-year contracts, for prices ranging from $500 to $7,000 a year. Some sold space on the sides, the top or the whole machine. Some sold permanent ad rights running the life of the machine.

The commission also recommended approval of a New Ulm Hockey Boosters Club request to put cages underneath the bleachers in the Olympic-sized arena to allow hockey players to keep their bags. The approval is subject to meeting several conditions, including the approval of the city inspector's office.

In staff reports, Park and Rec Director Dave Bechtold gave a progress report on landscaping ideas for the Kiesling House, which are still being developed. He further reported that despite staffing decreases due to budget cutbacks, the Park and Rec office has received no major complaints about the maintenance or condition of the facilities and parks.

The meeting also marked the final meetings for Commission members Tom Romaine, who is taking a position on the city's Emergency Response Committee, and commission chairman Mary Ann Hussman, who has completed two four-year terms. Mayor Joel Albrecht presented both with certificates of appreciation for their service. Their replacements will be named in January.