Fond du Lac County’s largest business organization is speaking out for the first time since the city council voted to exit a contract with a group of business leaders who had pledged millions of dollars to build a restaurant at Lakeside Park. Envision Greater Fond du Lac president Sadie Parafiniuk told AM 1170s Between The Lines program this week the council’s decision to terminate the enhancement agreement with Lakeside Forward will have longterm negative effects. “We’re incredibly disheartened to see the city council terminate a contract,” Parafiniuk said during her weekly appearance Monday on AM 1170s Between the Lines program. “Whenever a business is going to start or look to move in and now we have a pretty big black eye on the city for terminating a developer’s agreement.” Parafiniuk says one of the first questions developers ask when using site selectors before going into a community is whether a governmental body has ever terminated an existing agreement. “This goes beyond emotion. This has very tactical, real-life consequences,” Parafiniuk said. Parafiniuk says as of now the future of a restaurant at the park appears to be in the hands of the city council. As for whether Lakeside Forward is considering legal action against the city for backing out of the agreement? “In regard to Lakeside Forward taking legal action I know they are exploring all avenues available to them right now.” Parafiniuk added in a statement Wednesday that Envision is “open for business” and says the organization will “listen to our stakeholders and community to better utilize our resources to position Fond du Lac County as a great geographical location for development and talent attraction.”
