Elkader Council vote puts Sweet Corn Days in question
By Willis Patenaude, Times-Register
Even after numerous committee meetings, city council votes and contentious public debate, the fate of Elkader’s Sweet Corn Days, much like everything else during the COVID-19 pandemic, is uncertain—even two weeks after it was announced the annual celebration would move forward. The event, which is currently scheduled to take place on July 24 and 25, went back to the city council Monday evening to obtain approval for street closures, noise permits and a fireworks permit. The same council previously approved the liquor license for Sweet Corn Days, so approval seemed like a forgone conclusion…until it wasn’t.
Sweet Corn Days Chairperson Danielle Shea addressed the council and reminded them of their pledge back in May to support whatever decision the committee made. In an attempt to demonstrate community support, Shea cited polls of citizens and businesses who overwhelmingly desire Sweet Corn Days to happen.
She then proceeded to explain all of the efforts the committee has undertaken to provide a safe environment, such as hand sanitizing stations, PPE masks, social distancing and other measures that meet CDC guidelines, hoping to ease public concern. The public includes people who have been adamantly against Sweet Corn Days. To them, Shea said, “People who have questions, who are speaking negatively, we would encourage them to work with us and offer suggestions.”
Shea also encouraged council members to ask questions. Bob Hendrickson obliged, asking about attendance size and whether or not Sweet Corn Days meets the CDC’s definition of a high risk event. He also questioned whether people would follow the safety measures or adhere to the guidelines, despite the Sweet Corn Days Committee’s best efforts.
Shea responded that, because Elkader is a small community and the event is only expected to attract 400 to 500 people, according to a rough estimate, that it is a “medium sized gathering,” and, therefore, not a high risk. She continued, “We should let the facts guide us.”
Beyond this appeal for approval, Shea was struck by the level of negativity from a very vocal minority of community members who oppose the event. “We’ve never been treated so poorly by our community…[and] my committee is worn out. This might be our last year,” she said.
It was council member Daryl Koehn who was the most vocal in defense of Sweet Corn Days, citing other events that have happened, such as golf tournaments and the Combat Vets Ride, both of which brought crowds of people to the community.
As for the negativity hurled at the Sweet Corn Days Committee, Koehn said, “That bothered me because we’re a small community, and there is no place for that. These young folks are our future, and if we start kicking them, we might as well roll up the sidewalks. They have bent over backward to make this work, and they should be here being praised, not chewed out.”
Prior to the vote being cast, Dr. Michele Dikkers, chairperson of the Clayton County Health Board, which advised against holding Sweet Corn Days, spoke of the public health risks as COVID cases have seen a resurgence in recent weeks.
“What are the repercussions?” Dikkers asked. “Nobody is immune.”
Dikkers cited that the daily number of cases has surpassed 60,000 nationwide and mentioned that, in Clayton County, 67 percent of all cases are under the age of 60. When asked by Hendrickson why the health board advised against Sweet Corn Days, Dikkers mentioned the lack of a vaccine, the small medical community, the fact that COVID-19 exists in Elkader now and that, prior to updating the guidelines only recently, the CDC considered any gathering over 250 to be a large group, thus high risk. Sweet Corn Days provides a perfect set-up for an outbreak in the community that “could overwhelm the hospitals,” according to Dikkers.
Koehn again brought up the fact that other events of similar nature or size have been held and questioned why those were allowed, but not Sweet Corn Days. Dikkers responded that each event is considered as it comes, based on when it will take place, the duration of the event and the expected attendance. However, she concluded, “In my opinion, group activities should take a pause. This is going to get worse, not better. This is a new disease, and we don’t know the repercussions.” In closing, she said she would not recommend holding the event at this time.
After Dikkers spoke, Mayor Josh Pope moved on to approval of the items, but only Koehn motioned to approve, while remaining council members Peggy Lane, Hendrickson, Ed Josten and Randy Henning sat silent. At that moment, the approval was denied, and the future of Sweet Corn Days became muddied.
Lane said her decision “had nothing to do with the validity of the event” and even commented positively on the work and effort of the Sweet Corn Days Committee. Instead, she justified the decision based on the “disservice” holding such an event is to medical professionals and intoned that “it’s not the right time.”
Hendrickson, despite not voting for approval, communicated to Shea that he would support any decision the Sweet Corn Days Committee made. Josten and Henning did not comment on their decisions, but Koehn expressed displeasure with the decision.
“If we are so afraid, close the park and the pool,” Koehn said. “We sent the wrong message to the community.”
However, there is a catch. Because the council already approved the liquor license and the committee doesn’t need council approval to use Founders Park, Sweet Corn Days may still take place. It’s a decision the committee is expected to make later this week.
