Stillwater Still Owed $20K for Public Safety Services During Lumberjack Days

The city of Stillwater was not paid Friday for the police and fire services that were provided during the 2011 Lumberjack Days Festival. The $20,000 bill is due today. 

Festival Organizer Dave Eckberg told the Star Tribune Friday that the city won't be paid —adding that the city’s dispute is with the Lumberjack Days Festival Association, not with him.

"It's not owed by St. Croix Events," Eckberg told the Star Tribune. "It's owed by Lumberjack Days."

The city entered into a five-year contract with the Lumberjack Days Festival Association in December 2007 following a July 2007 discussion about payment for the use of police and fire services for the event.

According to Minnesota statute, a nonprofit organization is needed to approve a temporary liquor license for an event.

In the case of Lumberjack Days, that nonprofit organization is the Lumberjack Days Festival Association. The Lumberjack Days Festival Association also owes the city 35 percent of all gate receipts from last year's Lumberjack Days event, according to the contract.

The association renewed its nonprofit status with the Minnesota Secretary of State on Dec. 29. 

St. Croix Events, Eckberg’s production company, owes the city of Stillwater another $7,542 for public safety services provided during the in 2010 and 2011, according to public records. 

Stillwater police in October after Needham Distributing Company, based out of Grant, and the Woodbury-based were allegedly issued worthless checks for beer and liquor purchases.

The Stillwater Blue Line Boosters are also owed $10,000 after a group of hockey players helped set up the festival grounds last summer in the midst of a heat wave. Ichabod Productions of North Mankato has also filed a theft by worthless check complaint with the Stillwater Police Department.

Washington County Attorney Pete Orput told the Star Tribune that he has asked for the assistance of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office—he has also tapped the feds for some help in the investigation.

No criminal charges have been filed.