J&K Marine to install watercraft display near City Beach during 2023 Northwest Water Carnival

Detroit Lakes, Minn. (KDLM) – J&K Marine will be showcasing more than a dozen different watercraft near their pier on City Beach during the 2023 Northwest Water Carnival in Detroit Lakes.

The watersports retailer and installer’s display permit was approved by the city council during their June meeting with Dan Josephson, alderman third ward, and Ron Zeman, alderman first ward, opposing the measure.

Kelcey Klemm, city administrator for Detroit Lakes, said transient merchants are not allowed to sell or advertise on publicly-owned property normally, but the ordinance provides them a carve-out during the city’s Water Carnival.

“This falls underneath the Water Carnival exception,” said Klemm, during the meeting. “Because J&K basically has that easement there is why the city has allowed only J&K to do it at that location during the water carnival.”

Josephson said, in 2019, the city allowed J&K Marine to setup their display, but he still doesn’t think the use of public beach for a private business’s advertising and sales should be allowed.

“In 2019, we did have that conversation to reevaluate,” said Josephson. “And now, it’s time to reevaluate. I’m not necessarily in favor of all the advertising and use of the beach for private industry like this.”

Zeman made a motion to reduce the number of display units from J&K Marine’s permit, but the motion failed to gain a majority of city council to move forward.