Lumberjack Days Update: City Receives Several Proposals for Festival

As the Lumberjack Days debacle unfolds, Stillwater city staff members are busy hearing initial proposals for a replacement festival, while Dave Eckberg’s attorneys are gearing up for a jury trial.

Last month, the City Council shored up the details of a request for proposal document of a new, three-day community event that will take place in downtown Stillwater next summer.

On Tuesday, Community Development Director Bill Turnblad gave the council an update on the process.

“The RFPs went out last week, and since then I have talked to five different event production companies—from all over, they’re local, from the Twin Cities, from across the state and one from Boston," Turnblad said. "I’m not exactly sure how word gets out, but the event production community knows about it, and they are responding."

The proposals are due by 4:30 p.m. Sept. 29.

Turnblad said he is working with the groups on an addendum to the RFP so they all get the same information about what the city is looking for in an event, “but there has been a good response, and a lot of interest.”

Meanwhile, former Lumberjack Days promoter, Dave Eckberg, had an appearance in Washington County District Court on Wednesday, which was continued until this afternoon, in regards to 10 felony theft charges that have been filed against him for unpaid bills.

A trial date has been set for Oct. 28.