Advertisement proposal to be reworked

A proposal to allow advertisements in Red Wing's ball fields and parks is going back to the drawing board.

Red Wing City Council chose Monday to rework a proposed law that would allow signage in public recreational areas such as the Red Wing Athletic Field and Colvill Aquatic Center.

The Advisory Planning Commission voted not to recommend approval of the proposal last week. A handful of residents spoke in harsh opposition to the plan during a public hearing. They were especially critical of it because it would allow for advertisements in Red Wing's parks.

Commission members said the law, as it was proposed, was too wide open and could lead to unwanted advertisements.

That led the council to say the proposed law needed to be fixed before it could be considered.

"There would need to be tight definitions in terms of what would be allowed and where," Council member Lisa Bayley said.

Red Wing's Joint Recreation Board had proposed allowing for advertisements at youth athletic fields as a way to raise revenue for maintenance costs. Otherwise, the board will likely have to raise user fees or scale back services.

Council President Mike Schultz and Council member Dan Bender, who work with the Joint Recreation Board, pushed Monday to rework the proposed law.

But Council member Ralph Rauterkus said he thought it would be a waste of time because he's not in favor of allowing advertisements in the city's parks or ball fields.

"I just think it's a bad idea," Rauterkus said.

Community Recreation Coordinator Dave Borgen has estimated advertisements could raise $6,000.

But Schultz said he's heard new ideas for possible advertisements and that they could raise much more in revenue.

The issue is likely to come back before the council in the coming

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