During Thursday’s meeting, the St. Cloud City Council decided to maintain the suspension of operations for Toho Riverboat Adventures LLC until the January 2025 Council meeting. This decision allows a group of investors additional time to either acquire the business themselves or identify a buyer to preserve the popular lakefront attraction following the arrest of the company’s owners, Richard Lawrence, 38, and Frances Fernandez, 30, on felony charges, prompting the city to halt the riverboat’s operations to address concerns and explore viable solutions.
Bobby Crisp told Council members he is one a group of investors in the company, and that they are working to find a new owner – either the investment group or another buyer.
He said he is willing to pay the $1,204.07 December payment on the contract with the city to give the investors time to “make a smooth transition.”
Council members thanked Crisp for working to find a solution.
“This is why I love St. Cloud so much,” said Deputy Mayor Shawn Fletcher. “We’ve got an issue, and we have a group of St. Cloud folks jumping in trying to make it right.”
“I want to get this boat back up; I still think it’s a great business model,” Crisp said. “We’ve just got to get it in the right hands. The best thing is to get the money together and get it out of their names and into our name and then get a new contract with the city. That boat is in the best interest of the city. It’s a shining point for the city.”
City attorney Dan Mantzaris will work with the group to draft a new agreement to bring to City Council at the January meeting.
Photo Source: Toho River Adventures
