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Lake Lawn blog: Former employees hope to get their jobs back

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4:47 p.m., Wednesday, April 4, 2011 Former employees hope to get their old jobs back -- Reporter Darryl Enriquez talked to Jim Drescher today about the prospects of former Lake Lawn employees getting their old jobs back. Drescher said he's still waiting to sign the final contract.

Drescher, former president of Geneva National's golf club, said he has plans in place to get the resort up and running, and expects to give preference to former employees.

Drescher says they'll work to get the golf course and marina up and running, but the lodging and restaurants will take time to have all of the proper inspections done.

Enriquez will have more details in his story in Tuesday morning's Gazette, or online after 4 p.m.

8:55 a.m., Wednesday, March 30, 2011 Delavan City Council to consider Lake Lawn deal -- The Delavan City Council meets tonight and will address several last minute concerns from Jim Drescher, who is leading a group of investors planning to buy Lake Lawn Resort.

Drescher wants to make sure he has the city’s support for the direction he wants to move with the resort, Mayor Mel Nieuwenhuis said.

“He just wants some comfort before he signs the dotted line on Thursday,” Nieuwenhuis told Gazette reporter Ann Marie Ames. Her story is in today's Gazette.

Drescher's questions include:

• Whether the city is flexible on a special assessment on utility work at Lake Lawn.

• The city’s directive for Lake Lawn to hook up to city water.

• The possibility of building some high-end homes on the property.

• Moving some holes on the golf course.

6:50 a.m., Friday, March 18, 2011 Drescher to meet with banks this morning -- A good-sized crowd turned out at last night's Delavan City Council meeting to hear a presentation by Jim Drescher, who is leading a local investor group that wants to buy Lake Lake Resort. Ann Marie Ames reports that Drescher is optimistic, and has a meeting with the banks this morning. MORE Full story is in today's Gazette.

8:25 p.m., Thursday, March 17, 2011 -- Delavan City Council to meet on Lake Lawn Ann Marie Ames reports in today's Gazette that the investors first offered $8.4 million for Lake Lawn Resort, then upped it to $9.3 million. The Delavan City Council meets tonight to hear a presentation from the investor group and will discuss what help the city can provide. Ames' story will be online today after 4 p.m.

3:15 p.m., Wednesday, March 16, 2011 Blog outlines plan to re-open Lake Lawn Resort -- The front entrance of Delavan's Lake Lawn Resort remains gated, but behind the scenes, a group of local developers is hoping to open the gate in time for this year's resort season.

All that's standing in their way, they say, are the banks.

In a letter posted on the blog, SavingLakeLawn, Jim Drescher writes:

"Though it has taken awhile I have put together a group of local investors that all share my belief that we need to get people their jobs back and restore this wonderful resort so it is around for many years to come."

Drescher, a Geneva National Resident and philanthropist has donated to a variety of local causes. He helped fund the W.C. Resource Center Food Pantry in Lake Geneva, as well as the pool at the new Lakeland School of Walworth County.

Drescher's partner in the food pantry project, Lake Geneva Real Estate developer Sal Dimiceli, also is part of the group, according to the blog. Dimiceli is the founder of the local philanthropic group, The Time is Now.

Drescher writes that the only stumbling block is with the various banks involved in the Lake Lawn foreclosure. The group has begun publicizing its interest in Lake Lawn in hopes of convincing the banks to sign off on the deal.

Despite the roadblock, the Delavan City Council will take up a possible sale at a special council meeting beginning at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, according to a meeting agenda.

Drescher and Dimiceli have a reputation for getting things done. Although they can be impatient and aren't worried about ruffling feathers, they have a reputation for completing projects in a short amount of time.

To pull the Lake Lawn project off, they've reportedly enlisted the help of Bill Gage of Gage Marine to run the marina.

Gary Paluch, vice president and chief operating officer of Geneva National Golf Club, also is on board to manage the golf course.

Together, the group appears to be able to bring immediate investment, experience and knowledge to the project.

Despite hopes that a last-minute deal would keep the historic Delavan vacation destination open, Lake Lawn Resort closed Dec. 7, 2010.

Anchor Bank of Madison in October bought back the financially troubled property in a foreclosure sale for $19.97 million.

City officials had hoped the resort would re-open somehow this summer, but this news is the first report that appears to have serious merit.

Reporter Ann Marie Ames currently is working on a story for Thursday's Gazette.