LAKE GEORGE -- The state Department of Environmental Conservation has lowered its permit fee for Americade to use its Lake George facilities by nearly 30 percent, resulting in an agreement for the motorcycle rally to use DEC facilities again this year.
The DEC will charge Americade $50,000 for use of Million Dollar Beach, Battlefield Park and Prospect Mountain, $21,000 less than was charged last year and $32,000 less than the agency initially sought for this year.
Americade organizer Bill Dutcher had talked of moving the event out of the region if he could not rein in permit costs from the DEC.
The agreement came after four area leaders went to Albany last month to meet with DEC officials to discuss the issue.
State Sen. Elizabeth Little, R-Queensbury, Assemblywoman Teresa Sayward, R-Westport, Queensbury Supervisor Dan Stec and Lake George Supervisor Frank McCoy took part in the meeting.
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"I'm glad we were able to find a solution because Americade is such a big deal to the area economy," Stec said Friday.
Americade had paid $50,000 a year for years, until the agency sought to triple the price last year. The two sides eventually settled on $71,000.
To foster an agreement, the county agreed to provide Warren County sheriff's officers to help provide traffic control and security at the state facilities, replacing DEC personnel who have performed those duties.
It will cost the county about $7,000 to $8,000 for sheriff's officer overtime, Stec said.
"Sheriff (Bud) York came up with a plan that the DEC approved of," Stec said. "For a minimal amount of county resources, we got a good agreement with the DEC and everyone is happy with it."
The DEC cannot agree to long-term contracts for use of state land, so agreements are made year-to-year for the annual rally, held in early June each year.
"By law we can only issue temporary revokable permits for use of state land," DEC spokesman Michael Bopp said. "We have no problem coming to the table each year."
DEC Commissioner Joe Martens said in a news release that he hoped the agreement could serve as a "framework" for future years.
But McCoy said DEC officials indicated that the agreement should serve as a model for Americade's use of the property for the next several years.
He said York deserved thanks for coming up with a cost-effective plan to satisfy all sides.
"I think this is great for the business people of Lake George and Warren County," McCoy said.
Dutcher did not return a phone call for comment Friday afternoon.
