East Dundee approves RentFun kiosk agreement to bring self‑serve kayaks to the Fox River

The East Dundee Village Board approved an agreement with RentFun to install a self‑serve kayak kiosk along the Fox River, authorizing staff to move forward with a contract not to exceed $35,000 to allow for optional tandem kayaks and related equipment.

Staff described the project as an eight‑unit kiosk that can be expanded to include tandem kayaks if the board chooses; the base contract in the board packet accounted for 8 single kayaks while the board set the contract cap at $35,000 to permit adding tandems (roughly $2,500 per tandem). The village’s share of rental revenue from single transactions is 30 percent under the vendor’s current fee structure; annual pass options (a $99 pass discussed at the meeting) use a different revenue split in which the village would receive a fixed amount per pass.

Trustees questioned the proposed fee structure and asked whether the village could subsidize passes or distribute them through local outlets such as the library. Staff said RentFun would provide a local representative, maintain equipment and provide access to an operations dashboard the village could use to disable rentals during unsafe river conditions. "If it gets to a certain level, they will close that," staff said, adding that the village would retain the ability to turn off the system for emergency reasons.

Board members also discussed kiosk siting and unit design. Staff noted vendors offer both cedar/wood and metal kiosk versions; board members expressed a preference for a look compatible with downtown character and asked staff to ensure the vendor will maintain prompt local service and storage for replacement equipment.

After discussion, the board moved and approved the agreement by voice vote.