Carrollton council shows interest in kayak rental service at Point Park

Carrollton City Council is considering a proposal to provide rental kayaks and canoes at the city’s Point Park after the idea was introduced at the council’s regular meeting on Monday, April 8.

Mayor Robb Adams said the boats could be provided through a canoe and kayak rental service app called Schack’s Yaks, created by Chris Schack of New Richmond, Ohio. He explained that the company provides canoes and kayaks that can be delivered anywhere the city chooses for rental and use by customers on an hourly basis and that it’s a service Carrollton could make available to local residents as well as visitor’s to the city’s RV campground.

Adams said the rental units come supplied with boats, paddles and life jackets and could be delivered by May or possible sooner. The service works in a way that if someone wishes to rent a kayak, it can be rented by the hour and paid for on the app. Once a canoe of kayak is selected, a door to the dispenser automatically unlocks allowing the boat to be removed and used. When the kayak and equipment is returned, the app stops the purchase and charges the customer based on the time used.

“If somebody steals it, it’s all on this company,” Adams said. “It’s no cost ... to the city other than we are ... giving permission to put them on our property.”

Adams said that he and Carrollton/Carroll County Tourism Executive Director Misty Wheeler met with Schack and that Schack wants to locate the rental pods — large metal boxes — in a location where the kayaks won’t be dragged across gravel, asphalt or concrete from the pod to the water.

“In our case, we really can’t provide that. So it needs to be at Point Park where it’s most visible to advertise and campers can go down and do it,” he said.

He also noted that the pods with kayaks be removed by Schack’s Yaks company around October, because they are already committed to a big paddle festival in Cincinnati.

“There’s some specifics we have to work out from a legal standpoint on insurance and a few things,” Adams said, adding that Schack’s Yaks has information on insurance. “But I’m certain that can be worked out.” He said rental of the kayaks is similar to the electric scooters often seen available for rent.

Council member Linda Davis said she had seen the pods at other campgrounds. “I’d like to eventually find a way to put a kayak launch on our boat ramps,” she said.

“I think it’s awesome,” Council member Deidra Hays added.

The council stopped short on approving the proposal but based on the interest of Davis, Hays, and other council members, Adams will move forward with working out specific details on insurance, how much the operation will cost the city and any precautions needed. Once Adams has that information, he will report back to the council for possible action.

“I think it’ll be a great attraction,” Wheeler said. “It doesn’t cost us anything ... It’s just another amenity that we can offer to hopefully keep people in town longer, so I think it’s a great idea.”

In other business, the council:

• Recognized the Carroll County High School co-ed varsity cheerleading squad and coaches Ashley Beckham, Zach Beckham, and Darian Skirvin for its recent and first ever international championship win at the Americheer International Competition at Universal Studios in Orlando on March 16-17.

“These young ladies and gentlemen exhibit a lot of pride representing Carroll County High School and the City of Carrollton,” Adams said while reading from a proclamation. “They certainly symbolize the spirit of the City of Carrollton and their Carroll County High School with championship caliber.”

The council also proclaimed April 9 as Cheerleaders Day in Carrollton “for their outstanding appearance and performance.”

Riley Darnold, one of the cheerleaders, thanked the council. “We’ve put in a lot of work all year with the whole team,” she said.

• Adams said the Urban Forestry Commission will celebrate Arbor Day on April 25 rather than April 26. There will be a planting of two trees at two Carroll County schools including a redbud tree at the Carroll County Early Childhood Development Center at 9:45 a.m. and a southern magnolia tree at Kathryn Winn Elementary School at 10:45 a.m.

•Sam Burgess, manager of the Carrollton Main Street Program, said this year’s Easter in the Square was a great success and received a great crowd, with and estimated 200 children participating in the Easter Egg Hunts.

“It’s kind of like a vacuum cleaner running over the grass,” he said. “They swooped up over 2,000 eggs in less than five minutes.”

Burgess also reported that Carrollton’s annual Family Fun Fridays will be held on June 7, July 12, August 9 and September 6 on 2024.

The next city council meeting will beat 7 p.m. on Monday, April 22.