New Ulm bidding to host state baseball, again

NEW ULM -- The Park and Recreation Commission approved and recommended the city sign a lease agreement with the Turner Gymnastic Academy for use of the new gymnastic center in the recreation center.

The proposed lease agreement has been reviewed by all parties. The park and recreation commission was required to set a monthly rental fee as part of the agreement.

Assistant Park and Recreation Director Cheryl Kormann said a preliminary estimate of all city costs related to the gymnastic center would place the fee at $5,000. Kormann said this was only an estimate and reminded the commission that no user group of the city park and recreation facilities pays 100% of city costs.

New Ulm Turnverein President Mathew Berger said no one will know the true costs until the Turner Gymnastic Academy is using the space.

"We want to pay our fair share and be good tenants," Berger said. "We do believe the $5,000 estimates are higher than we expected."

Berger suggested a $4,000 monthly rent with the understanding this fee could be renegotiated at a later date.

Commissioner and city councilor David Christian said he wanted the facility to be used and he would be open to $4,000 rent.

City Manager Chris Dalton said because other user groups do not pay 100% costs and this was a new facility with a new program, a lower rent would help it get off the ground. The two-year agreement would help determine capacity. After two years the amount could be renegotiated.

Dalton said it would be easier to raise the rent after two years than to lower it.

Commissioner Leroy Flor said the gymnastic facilities were built for a reason and if Turner Gymnastic Academy chooses not to lease the facility, the city will make no money.

Commissioner Bev Luneburg made the motion to set the rent at $4,000 per month with a second from Flor. It was unanimously approved.

In other news, Kormann gave an update on Reinvest in New Ulm projects. The Recreation Center upgrades that include the gymnastic facility, aquatic center, wellness center and indoor playground are over half complete.

The Recreation Center officially closed Saturday afternoon for the final phase of construction. The fitness equipment is being relocated to the Civic Center for the remainder of construction. The equipment move will occur throughout the week and the facility will be available to the public next Monday.

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Park and recreation unanimously recommended the city forward letters to the Minnesota Baseball Association supporting the New Ulm Baseball Association's (NUBA) bid to host the 2023 Minnesota Amateur Baseball Class B and Class C Tournaments at Johnson and Mueller Parks.

New Ulm had the bid in 2020, but because of the COVID pandemic, the city chose not to host the tournaments. NUBA is now requesting to apply for the bid in 2023. The 2023 tournament will be the 100th anniversary of the Minnesota Amateur Baseball Tournaments.

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The request from Hermann Monument Society to hold HermannFest 2021 was recommended for approval. The event will include fireworks at Hermann Heights Park and live music in Hermann Heights Park and Harman Park. The New Ulm Battery is planning a cannon fire in the park as part of the celebration.

This is an annual request, but the festival was not held in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic. The HermannFest committee will follow public health recommended guidelines.

The celebration will be held Saturday, Sept. 11.

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The commissioners recommended overnight temporary camping and recreation fires in South German Park for a BMX Minnesota State Qualifier Racing Event. The event is Friday, June 11, Saturday, June 12, and Sunday, June 14.

This is an annual request made by River Valley BMX Club and the city has reported no issues with the event.