The Corn Palace Festival carnival midway is moving north next year. Mayor Bob Everson cast a tie-breaking vote in favor of moving the carnival midway between Fifth and Eight Avenues on a one-year trial in 2019.
Declining carnival revenue and complaints from some Main Street business owners prompted the move.
It was Everson’s first tie-breaking vote since becoming Mayor. “We kind of get a sample of what’s going to happen,” said Everson. “Hopefully we can get a long-term contract, we can figure out what’s best for the city and what’s best for the carnival. We kind of get a preview…if we go a five year contract to the north this is what could happen. If we keep in down on the south end of Main Street, we kind of know what’s happening.”
Bar owner Jason Bates strongly opposed the move saying it would hurt him financially. “Corn Palace Week is the busiest week of the entire year for me,” said Bates. “If I told you the amount of money that you’re going to cost me, you’d be shocked. I do a month’s worth of business that week.”
He told the council he has a close relationship with Goldstar Amusements ownership and its employees. “I’ve created a safe place for them to come and not be harassed by the town, they come in and use the bathroom and get water from me.”
Mitchell Main Street and Beyond surveyed only its members on Main Street regarding the idea. Councilor Susan Tjarks said the most recent survey indicated a slight majority favored the move with several neutral responses. Bates is not a member of Mitchell Main Street and Beyond and said he was not surveyed.