Attribution below: By Rodney Hart Herald-Whig Staff Writer The World Free Fall Convention has agreed to drop its lawsuit against the city of Quincy and pay nearly $27,000 for police expenses incurred during last year’s event. The city also terminated its five-year contract with the WFFC and will keep all improvements made at Quincy Regional Airport. The settlement was signed Tuesday afternoon. “It’s a mutual agreement in the best interest for both parties,” said Quincy attorney Jim Palmer, who represented the city. “It’s fair and it’s an equitable resolution to our differences, and both sides are better off for it. Mr. (Don) Kirlin can move forward in a positive proactive fashion and the city can essentially deal with the airport in the context of general aviation.” The city received a cashier’s check for $26,935.96 Tuesday. The city claimed the Quincy Police Department spent that for overtime pay for security at the 2001 event. The city also sought $5,620 for Quincy Fire Department personnel, $11,791.86 for fence rental, airport cleanup and other services provided by Central Services, and $917.38 to Quincy Regional Airport. Palmer said there were “probably good reasons” the city didn’t get the additional $18,329.24 it said it was owed from the 2001 WFFC. “The fire protection services weren’t nailed down in the contract, and the fencing material we got to keep,” Palmer said. “But the $26,935.96 we were emphatic about. And we have no payments due to (the WFFC).” Quincy Mayor Chuck Scholz said the money will be put in the city’s General Fund, then given to the police department. “In addition to budgetary concerns, we wanted vindication for our law enforcement agency, that their conduct out there was absolutely proper and that what they did was necessary to protect public safety and enforce the law,” Scholz said. “Secondly, I think it was in the best interest of the city that we severed the relationship with the World Free Fall Convention legally. We are completely released. Now they can go on and they can pursue their event elsewhere and we’ll look for other events at the airport.” The WFFC is negotiating with Rantoul to host the 2002 event. Rantoul has a former Air Force base and campground just outside the airport. The WFFC sued the city in December for more than $300,000 in damages, alleging the city violated the 1996 and 2001 agreements and failed to work in good faith with organizers. Two of the three counts were dismissed by Judge Dennis Cashman in January. “Just knowing that matter is settled, I think the lawsuit was a little problematic from the standpoint of the way we were looking at it,” Rantoul Chief of Police Paul Dollins said. “The fact it’s being settled looks a lot better for us. It’s in everybody’s best interest in that matter.” Quincy Police Department Chief Michael DeVoss said his overtime budget was “strapped” and was glad to have the matter finished. “It seems to be an equitable settlement,” DeVoss said. “It keeps the improvements at the airport and pays us the police expenses.” The WFFC contended the city failed to reimburse the WFFC for capital improvements it made to the airport, as specified in the 1996 and 2001 agreements. The suit also alleges that “excessive and unreasonable policing” of the 2001 convention interfered with business relationships with participants, spectators and vendors. Quincy Regional Airport Manager Mark Hanna said the airport and city would try to attract other events, like June’s County Market balloon rally. “It’s unfortunate it had to all end up like this after a 12-year relationship,” Hanna said. “But we’re relieved the litigation has been finalized.”
