A motel feasibility study was approved by the Manawa Common Council at its July 21 meeting.
The council agreed to have HMI conduct a comprehensive market study not to exceed a cost of $8,600 to determine if the city could support a motel.
The money would come from the city’s economic development fund, which currently has a balance of about $17,000.
Doing the feasibility study was recommended by the Finance Committee in its meeting held prior to the council meeting.
“If we want to see any growth, we need to do something,” Mayor John Smith said during the Finance Committee meeting.
Smith noted that businesses are losing big events, such as weddings, because there are not enough motels in the immediate area.
A few years ago, the city looked into having a motel come to Manawa, but no company was interested. Smith said that recently, a motel chain expressed interest and recommended the city do a feasibility study.
HMI requires a $4,300 retainer prior to do the study. The remainder of the fee would be paid after completion.
The council’s motion stated that they understand the cost will be reimbursed if a motel is established due to the feasibility study.
HMI will present the study results to a variety of motels, including the chain that expressed an interest in Manawa.
Lindsay Park upgrades
The council approved the placement of underground anchors and fences for the fields at Lindsay Park, as requested by the Manawa Softball Association.
The field upgrade will be made at no cost to the city. It will be funded entirely by the MSA.
The in-ground anchors will make it easier to set up fences, and then the MSA can use both the softball and baseball fields for its eighth annual tournament on Aug. 8-9.
According to Matt Timm, the additional fencing will allow the MSA to host more teams. Currently, nine teams are committed to attending, with two more teams interested.
“We want to continue the tournament,” Timm said. “Once you stop, it’s hard to get started again.”
Council members asked if the plastic anchors would be in the way of grass cutting and how they would be located.
Timm said the anchors would be deep enough not to interfere with field maintenance. Also, the MSA would know how to locate the inserts.
The city’s Department of Public Works worried that the anchors might heave up and down with the unstable ground at Lindsay Park.
The council requested that a DPW representative be on site during the placing of the anchors.
In other business, the DPW reported that the Waupaca County Highway Department is working on County Road B. The road is closed to traffic, with alternate routes posted.