[MARCH 7, 2006]
Requests made by new Lincoln Speedway owner Glynn
Barber have sparked controversy at City Hall. Two representatives
for the new owner came before the city council last week requesting
permission to change nights, lengthen the curfew and add alcohol to
the event.
The quarter-mile track located at the Logan County Fairgrounds
received little attention when it was first proposed just over two
years ago. However, complaints began after the first night of races
from people living within hearing of the track. When former owners
Gary Baugh and Norm Horn returned to the council last year to ask
for a couple of extra nights of special races, the public turned out
to express their unhappiness at the noise and oppose the requests.
Once again people are expressing their dislike of the noise that the
car races create on Sunday evenings. They say they cannot sit out in
their yards for the noise on the evening that the races take place
each week, May through September.
Several people were at last week's meeting to speak in favor of
the races. A fan came from Springfield to say that he enjoys coming
to Lincoln and bringing friends and family. They eat here and enjoy
the town's atmosphere. He said that he would enjoy the changes and
events that the new owner could bring.
The issues were discussed for around an hour, getting them all
out on the table, and then Mayor Beth Davis suggested that it be
reopened for further discussion in committee before the voting
session scheduled for last night. This would give citizens who were
opposed an opportunity to appear or respond to alderman.
When the matter was reopened to committee last night, about a
half-dozen residents came to express their disapproval. The key
issue remained the noise that the cars create. The residents were
opposed to extending the hours.
A couple of race fans were also there to express their support of
the races and the proposed changes.
After the public was given a chance to speak, the committee had
no time remaining to discuss the matter. However, all members of the
council were present, except for Alderman Jonie Tibbs, who stated
last week that she would be out of town for the evening.
She also made it known last week that, based on the phone calls
she had received from her constituency, she was opposed to the
changes being requested.
The matter was reopened a few minutes later when the council
opened the business meeting. A number of council members said that
they had received calls during the week. Some had a balance of calls
for and against the track.
The aldermen living in wards closer to the track heard mostly
opposition. The complaints remain about the noise. Benny Huskins
said that even if the races were changed to Saturday, people don't
want it past 10:30 p.m.
Mayor Davis said the calls she has received go both ways. She
took a moment to share some of the long list of complaints that she
has received in the last five years:
Logan County Fair
time -- flies brought by animals; cow and sheep noises
Neighbors against
neighbors around the fairgrounds
People complain, she said. Not everyone is going to like what
everyone else likes.
She said that Lincoln needs new entertainment to keep our young
people interested in being here. We need family-oriented
entertainment with variety that will draw visitors and bring people
back.
Councilmen began sorting out the matter, trying to reconcile the
importance of listening to citizens' complaints and the potential
impact of the changes requested.
First a motion and second were made to deny the petition, which
had all the requests bundled together as one petition. During
discussions it was recognized and agreed to by Brian Thompson, who
was there to represent Barber, that the requests were intended to be
made separately.
The motion and second were retracted, and then during discussions
it was recognized that many of the alderman wanted to hear directly
from the new owner, particularly on the matter of the noise the cars
make.
A new motion to table each of the requests was made and seconded.
More discussion took place and then the vote to table was called. It
passed 5–4.
At the end of the meeting, a motion was made and seconded by Verl
Prather and Buzz Busby, respectively, to adjourn the meeting to next
week, when, hopefully, the new owner can be present to answer some
questions.
The tabled motion would take a two-thirds vote, or eight people,
to take it off the table next week, Alderman Benny Huskins said.
Summary:
Alderman Marty Neitzel said, "They're going to have races whether
we vote on this or not." Other aldermen agreed.
It was also recognized that other entertainment that the new
owner could bring in, such as rock concerts, are not up to the
council to decide. The Logan County Fair board would determine
whether to permit the use of the fairgrounds for a concert or other
events the business spoke about bringing there.
Next week the council could decide the requests made by Lincoln
Speedway in regard to the racetrack use:
A change of days from Saturday night to Sunday night.
The addition of four extra race days that fall on a day
other than Sunday.
Decide whether to allow the sale of alcohol (beer).
