Council backs staff work to develop lease for radio-control park after hours-long discussion

Colin Baumgard, a city staff presenter, asked the Willmar City Council to instruct staff to develop a lease agreement with a local RC Park club so the group could build a radio-control facility. The council debated whether the initial proposed site at Pleasant View Park was suitable and what protections the city would require if the club built on public land.

Corey Pavelko, who identified himself as an owner of the local hobby shop, described the proposed facility and operations. He said the park would include a banked clay oval, rally and drift courses, a ‘‘crawler’’ area for rock‑crawler vehicles, a staging/driver stand built from a shipping container, accessible ramps and parking for 20–25 cars with overflow, membership access with key cards, occasional community days, and regional events that the club estimates could draw “100 to 150” visitors. Pavelko told the council his group has been pursuing the project for about 10 years and estimated construction costs at roughly $180,000–$200,000.

Councilmembers raised a string of concerns. Members asked how the club would provide parking and electricity, pointing to the site’s lack of an established lot and the possibility of trenching or utility restrictions. City staff and club representatives said electricity could be run from a nearby small building or provided by generators initially; the club said it planned to limit deep excavation to two to three feet for topsoil work and had discussed restrictions with staff. Councilmembers also pressed about days and hours of operation, noise (the club said the vehicles are electric), fencing and access control, insurance and liability limits (Pavelko said the club would carry $2,000,000 in liability insurance), and restoration obligations if the lease ended (the club said the lease would require restoration).

Some councilmembers suggested staff should explore alternative city-owned parcels that might offer better parking or visibility; club representatives said they were open to other locations but hoped to start quickly and aimed to break ground in late summer. After extended discussion, Councilmember Gilbertson’s amended motion — to develop a lease agreement with the Radio Control Park Club to construct an RC park (without specifying a fixed location) — passed 6–1 by roll call.

The council’s action directs staff to work with the club on a draft lease that will return to the council for final approval. The motion does not commit the city to a particular parcel or to construction funding.

The council also discussed operational safeguards the lease should include, such as maintenance responsibilities, liability insurance, restoration requirements and a mechanism to terminate the lease if the club fails to maintain the facility.