At the last minute, a decision whether to grant final approval of the first-ever Stillwater marathon was pulled off the City Council's agenda Monday after event organizers and business owners decided they needed more time to gather input from stakeholders in the community.

A vote was tabled, likely until the Dec. 16 council meeting, to allow race organizer St. Croix Events and the Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce to work out some of the details, Mayor Ken Harycki said this morning. (He said pulling an item off the agenda isn't unique and has happened before.)

"He realizes this is a necessary step," Harycki said, referring to Dave Eckberg, president of St. Croix Events.

The meeting was not negative at all, Eckberg said.

"We are not interested in jamming this down people's throats," he said. "What's important to us is that we move ahead with the support of the community. ... We think everything is addressable."

At least two downtown business owners don't want the marathon to end downtown and they don't want it held Memorial Day weekend.

Meg Brownson, owner of Alfresco Casual Living, said if the finish line and the date were changed, she would support the marathon.

"It's scary with the economy right now. It's not the right time for another major event," she said.

Brownson suggested the Washington County Fairgrounds as a more suitable finish for the race because it has ample parking and would "spread out" the positive business impact to the surrounding communities.

Brownson noted several other business owners share her apprehensions, including a number of people who signed a petition to stop the marathon unless certain parameters are met. Harycki estimated 30 people signed it.

One person who signed the petition was Sherri Hopfe-Franke, one of the owners of the Dock Cafe. She doesn't think the marathon would translate into extra business for her, suggesting it would deter her regular customers who will shy away from Stillwater because of congestion from the marathon. Hopfe-Franke also said that during Lumberjack Days, she doesn't see a large increase in business. Ditto for Brownson.

"Lumberjack Days is my slowest weekend of the month," Brownson said, adding that she knows of a retail shop in Duluth that closes completely during that city's annual marathon.

Organizers have made attempts to help out business owners - each finisher is set to get a drink ticket for a local bar or restaurant.

"The Dock Cafe will be full of people all day long. I can't understand how that is a bad thing," Eckberg said.

Brownson said she understands how it sounds counterintuitive to go against the marathon, but acknowledged she has been around long enough to know that large events don't always carry over to extra business. She drew a comparison to the recently held Republican National Convention in St. Paul.

"Everyone went over to Minneapolis," she said.

As for Eckberg, he isn't willing to change the finish line or the date of marathon. Two businesses do not control downtown, he said, and a "vast majority" of merchants support the event.

"It's the best place to end it," Eckberg said.

While some merchants may not support certain aspects of the marathon, many in the St. Croix Valley running community do. Kim Maxwell, personal trainer and running coach, has been consulting Eckberg on the marathon.

"Everyone seems kind of excited about it," Maxwell said.

She said she hopes it will encourage people to start healthy lifestyles.

A meeting with St. Croix Events and the Downtown Merchants Association is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Dec. 10 at the Water Street Inn. For more information on the meeting, contact the chamber of commerce at 651-439-4001. Under the current parameters, the chamber of commerce does not endorse the marathon.

Fire department hiring

The council voted to approve Fire Chief Stu Glaser to begin the hiring process for paid-on call firefighters. Glaser told the council he would advertise the open positions through December. Since the city was on the hiring freeze, Glaser had to ask for permission to start the hiring process. He said he would expect the new hires to be on duty by March.