City extends tax rebate deal with Surf Ballroom, museum

by Marianne Gasaway

The Clear Lake City Council approved extension of a property tax rebate agreement with the North Iowa Cultural Center & Museum, operators of the Surf Ballroom, during a special session held Monday morning.

The City and Surf have entered into three previous such agreements involving just the ballroom at 460 North Shore Dr.  The new agreement involves the city portion of property taxes paid on three properties — the ballroom, the adjoining ballroom dressing room annex at 464 North Shore Dr., and the Surf Ballroom Music Enrichment Center at 509 Buddy Holly Pl.  The tax rebate will be in an amount not to exceed $90,000 over a five-year period.

Jeff Nicholas, president of the NICC&M, told the Council that prior to the pandemic the ballroom was on “good, solid footage.”  Several renovation projects had been completed and a new parking lot constructed.  “Then the pandemic hit and it’s been a very, very difficult year.”  

The ballroom has been unable to hold large events; there have been a handful of weddings, a few meetings and even a few funerals, he said.  

“We will continue to strive to make the Surf Everything it can be.  We will do everything in our power to make you proud of us and all the Surf stands for,” Nicholas added.

Chamber of Commerce CEO Stacy Doughan also spoke to the Council in support of the five year property tax rebate agreement for the Surf.  

“People from all over the world come to experience all the culture and history of the Surf.  They stay in our hotels, dine in our restaurants and shop in our stores,” she said.  “And I enjoy seeing the little ones going in and

[wlm_nonmember]To read more of this article, please login or sign up for our E-Edition[/wlm_nonmember][wlm_ismember]

out of the Music Enrichment Center.  They are instilling a love of music that will ensure the music lives on.”

The special meeting was needed in order for the agreement to be included in the fiscal year 2022 tax-increment financing certification request to the county.  The filing deadline for the agreement was Dec. 1.

[/wlm_ismember]