Clear Lake council approves tax rebate agreement renewal with group that oversees Surf Ballroom

CLEAR LAKE — The Clear Lake City Council this morning approved the extension of a property tax rebate agreement with the group that oversees the operations of the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake.

The North Iowa Cultural Center & Museum originally had a three-year agreement with the city starting in 2009 and have had two five-year extensions since that time, with the current agreement expiring in June 2021.  The renewal involves the city portion of the property taxes paid on three properties — the ballroom, the adjoining ballroom dressing room annex, and the Surf Ballroom Music Enrichment Center — in an amount not to exceed $90,000 over a five-year period. The property tax repayments happen twice a year with each payment being roughly $4000.

Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce CEO Stacy Doughan says the Surf brings a number of people to the community annually.   “I think we can all agree on the importance and economic impact the Surf Ballroom has on our community. People from all over the world come to Clear Lake to experience all the culture and history the Surf offers. They stay at our hotels. They dine in our restaurants. They shop at our stores.”

Doughan says the addition of the Music Enrichment Center has had a positive impact on the community.   “I know I enjoy seeing all of the little ones head in and out of that facility every week and they are really truly instilling a love of music that will ensure that the music lives on.”

For the agreement to be included in the fiscal year 2022 tax-increment financing certification request to the county, the resolution approving the agreement had to be approved and filed by tomorrow.