Anoka's dream of hosting a Rum River paddle-wheeler this summer has faded after soundings revealed that the river is too shallow and narrow for regular trips by the 80-foot boat, officials said.
Boat operator Dan Nelson said he's still hoping to dock next year at an Anoka park on the Mississippi River for cruises down to the Coon Rapids dam.
However, an expensive snag must be resolved. The city estimates it will cost about $100,000 for parking, utility connections and other improvements needed to dock the 149-seat boat at Peninsula Point Two Rivers Park, said Public Services Director Greg Lee. The park sits at the confluence of the Rum and the Mississippi, just downstream from the Anoka-Champlin bridge.
Lee said the city is negotiating with the boat owner, SkipperLiner Industries of La Crosse, Wis., and has offered to split the cost of permanent park improvements, including about 50 more parking spaces, and water, sewer and electrical connections. The city proposed that improvements such as mooring pilings, which benefit only the river boat, would be borne by SkipperLiner, Lee said.
Nelson, SkipperLiner's sales president, said he plans to meet soon with city officials.
"I don't expect to get [the boat] to Anoka this year," Nelson said. "We hope to be there in the spring if we can work out the new docking."
If the boat comes next year, it would operate on the Mississippi during the summer season. Lee said Nelson has talked of then bringing it up the Rum River and docking it downtown below City Hall for the winter, where it could host parties or events.
Mayor Phil Rice said he wonders about the city spending so much at Peninsula Point, especially since the boat would bring people downtown only in the winter. But most of the council still favors landing a river boat, which might attract visitors to town who see it from the Champlin bridge, he said.
