UPDATE 10:44 p.m., Oct. 15
At their meeting Tuesday night, the Frankfort City Council tabled the decision to host the Ironman 70.3 for two more years. They said they will vote on it at their next meeting on Tuesday, October 22.
FRANKFORT - The Frankfort City Council is voting on the agreement for the Ironman to return. The council plans to make a decision and then tell ironman what that is by October 22nd. The Ironman has had a far-reaching impact on Frankfort and other northern Michigan communities.
“It looks favorable. Because we had very positive, response, not just from the community, the volunteers that worked on it and that they were very, very pleased,” says Mayor Joann Holwerda.
The ironman 70.3 has been held in Frankfort for 3 years, and there have been positive and negative discussions on whether or not it should stay.
“We did have a couple of businesses, that were spoke up and said that they were affected by that day, you know, of business, of losing business. So, we took all of that into consideration,” explains Holwerda.
At the meeting tonight, the council will be discussing the impact the ironman has had on the community.
“It’s been, an extremely rewarding experience working with ironman. You know, it obviously does create a little bit of a conflict in our community, regarding the event, especially the day of. But, the economic impact that this event provides to the community, throughout the year,” says Josh Mills Superintendent.
If the agreement passes it will have Frankfort host the ironman for the next 2 years, and there may be some changes for the community.
“I’ve had other conversation, with other individuals, that thinks that we should do better by offering, like, music, you know, being that main street is shut down, offer something for those that are waiting, you know, for the finish line or, you know, whatever, you know. So, we need to offer something out there, “shares Holwerda.
One community member shares why the ironman is special to her.
“I love to watch it. I actually am on the route so I, my house is affected. I’m on M-22, I’m in lake township and my route I can’t get out you know during ironman because the bicyclists are going by on M-22 there.
So what I do is I get up early in the morning before the sun is up and I come in to so I can watch it and it’s fantastic,” Jeannette Feeheley shares.
The Ironman Frankfort is the most recommended race globally and Feheeley says she knows why.
“We cheer the participants and they say, thank you. I mean, who says thank you today? They say, thank you. It’s just a feeling of gratitude and spirit. And I really love also that our community has embraced it so fully. So many volunteers and so many people right here in our community participate,” She says.