 Last week Lincoln Speedway owners Don Hammer and Norm Horn came
before the council and petitioned for three extensions for next
season. They had one extension granted to use last season and said
that the one saved their season.The track had a mix of Saturday
and Sunday evening events in 2007 and is set to have a like mix for
2008.
Saturday curfew is set at 11 p.m. and a Sunday curfew is at 10:30
p.m.
The extensions would be used at the owners' discretion on nights
when the races might exceed their curfew due to unavoidable
circumstances. The latitude would garner favor for the track from
racers who might otherwise get cut off, and it would grant the crowd
the promised races and winners.
The request stirred extensive discussion from aldermen.
Alderman Benny Huskins first questioned if the fairgrounds was
ever annexed into the city of Lincoln and therefore actually under
the city jurisdiction.
Mayor Beth Davis-Kavelman said that the current zoning was being
looked into, but jurisdiction didn't matter on this issue. This
activity would still be a city issue under the city's nuisance laws.
Alderman Buzz Busby launched the first opposition, saying, "What
are they going to come back and ask for next year? I can't back
this. They've been up here three or four years in a row now, and
each time they came they asked for more, and it was given to them.
And I voted against it every time."
Melody Anderson -- This is a learning experience, not only for
us, but for them. You can't always foresee everything that's coming
down the pike.
On the jurisdiction issue, she said, we already control them.
Jeff Hoinacki -- Regarding next year, if they come up here with
something outrageous, we can always say no to them.
Verl Prather -- I haven't always supported everything that's gone
on out there. I have had the opportunity to go this year, and they
run a class act.
They don't mess around. They get the cars in and out. The new
management does an awesome job out there.
I think we can work with them. They're just asking for extension
on three nights when they might possibly run late.
Dave Armbrust -- Agreed with Busby: They seem to be standing here
with their hand out every year.
Joni Tibbs -- There's been nights out there you couldn't get
another car in that parking lot on the fairgrounds nor around it.
Our businesses are doing very well with this racetrack, which
generates tax dollars into this community.
We talk about downtown parking and interfering with businesses --
this is what we're doing here too.
It's a couple of hours, once a week and very much a
family-oriented thing.
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Benny Huskins -- The racetrack has tainted property values since it
has been there.
He questioned if the sales tax revenue offsets the property tax
loss created by devalued property.
Wanda Lee Rohlfs -- Agreed that looking at the property values
and loss of property taxes was something to consider also.
Marty Neitzel -- I feel the gentlemen that come up here are very
honest. They put things to us.
They're in a real bind out there when they find out they need 30
minutes to finish the race and they have all these people out there
and kids wondering who's going to win.
They'll be responsible about when they use it.
She challenged if the property values went down due to the
racetrack or if it may be more related to how current owners are
caring for the older properties. Some of the new ones don't take
care of their property as good as they should. I'm not saying that's
it. It's just another way of looking at it.
Anderson -- It seems like whenever something comes up with the
racetrack, a lot of the same issues come up. Folks, you voted this
in a long time ago. You either need to work with them to try to make
it the best it can be or we're going to be rehashing the same things
over and over again. We need to move forward.
Mayor Beth Davis-Kavelman -- I heard a lot from the community
about the national show that they brought in this last summer.
We've done a really good thing for our community.
There are other racetracks next to properties that have not gone
down in value.
Kathy Horn -- My complaint calls on the track have gone down this
past year.
I live near the track and probably hear more than most people do.
I believe the owners have worked hard to keep the noise down.
Approving the extensions were Anderson, Horn, Tibbs, Hoinacki,
Neitzel, Prather.
Against were Busby, Rohlfs, Armbrust and Huskins.
[By JAN YOUNGQUIST]
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