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Great Lakes MX News Archives |
Update
August 24, 2007:
Article published in the Racine Journal for your info. Please show
your support and attend the next meeting on Tuesday August 28,
2007 More info and location at the end of article.
PARIS — Having spent a career in and around competitive racing, Randy
Henning won’t go down without a fight.
So even with the odds seemingly stacked against him, Henning,
proprietor of the Great Lakes Dragaway is not ready to throw in the
towel regarding his plans for a competitive motocross racing track
addition to the drag strip located on Highway KR just south of Union
Grove.
The Paris Plan Commission on Monday voted to recommend the Town Board
not approve the plan. The board is to consider that recommendation at
a meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday night at Paris Elementary School.
"We are going to present our case again and concentrate our efforts in
showing we are a benefit to the town," Henning said Thursday. "I don’t
intend on going away."
The Plan Commission’s Monday decision came a month after area
residents packed a July Plan Commission meeting. The majority of the
residents that night spoke out against the plan, but there were voices
in support of the proposal, too. Residents were not allowed to speak
on the plan at Monday’s meeting, but based on an unusually high
meeting attendance of approximately 30, concern was still evident
according to John Holloway, Plan Commission chairman.
"People from the drag strip were hoping to keep the debate to the
motocross issue, but residents also wanted to talk about ongoing
concerns at the drag strip," Holloway said.
Among the concerns expressed, according to Holloway and meeting
minutes, are noise, lighting, potential pollution impact on the Des
Plaines River and increased demands on the town’s volunteer rescue
squad.
Henning, though, thinks much of the criticism of the track is coming
from recent residents to the area — those having lived in the area for
fewer than 10 years, many of whom live in large multi-acre country
estates that are popping up in rural areas throughout Kenosha and
Racine counties.
"All these people made conscious decisions to move to the area knowing
the racetrack was there," Henning said.
Henning, who has operated Great Lakes for 14 of its 54-year history,
has provided evidence that he says offsets the concerns. Regarding
complaints about the drag strip’s lighting, he says the town and
Kenosha County approved lighting plans for the drag strip several
years ago. He said the light spill on neighboring properties is
negligible, but has offered to remove some of the existing light
stands at the drag strip.
Regarding noise, Henning said he has had two noise tests made at the
track with 24 motorcycles and those tests show the noise level would
be no higher than what the drag strip already produces. He says the
noise cannot be heard west of the track at Kenosha County highways A
or D, and is minimal as far north as the track gates along Highway KR.
Regarding accidents, Henning says recent statistics taken from
motocross racing at the Lake Geneva raceway show five calls for rescue
assistance out of 22 racing dates. Henning says the track has its own
ambulance, but still calls the Paris Fire and Rescue Department for
every injury or illness at the track.
It’s the track’s economic impact that Henning and the Plan Commission
are strongly debating.
Holloway said the town gets no property tax from the track as there is
no property tax levy in Paris due to income the town receives from the
Pheasant Run landfill on Highway 45 south. But Holloway says the
economic benefit to the town’s handful of businesses is minimal, too,
with most of the economic gain going to businesses in neighboring
communities.
Henning plans to counteract that contention. He said he has invited
Paris business owners along Highway 45 and Highway 142 and the
interstate to attend Tuesday’s meeting. He said he also has invited
about 120 town residents who he says are regular customers of the
track.
Holloway said, from his standpoint, the Plan commission treated
Henning fairly, no different than any other party who comes before the
commission.
"(Resident) input is important to our consideration, but it was not a
popularity contest," Holloway said. "We realize it’s a popular sport
and know a lot of people are interested in it. It would provide
availability of racing for a number of residents, but in our viewpoint
it did not offset the potential impact."
--------------DIRECTIONS TO TUESDAY 7:00
MEETING---------------------
1901 176th (Hwy D) Paris Elementary School 7pm, please support us and
attend. This will be a meeting where your opinion can be spoken.
Again, we ask you to help us pack the place and not give up.
Directions: Hwy 94 to Hwy 142 west, to Hwy D, South 1/4 mile to school
on left or hwy 45 South to Hwy142 go east to Hwy D, South 1/4 mile to
school or Hwy 50 east to Hwy 45 North to Hwy 142 East to Hwy D south ¼
mile to school.
Thank You,
Erin Aune
Moto Promo's
Update
August 22, 2007:
At the August 20 meeting with the town of Paris, Moto Promo's in
conjunction with Great Lakes Dragaway presented answers to all the
questions the Town of Paris Planning and Commission Board had
requested at the prior meeting. We had a professional sound study
conducted and the results showed that the bikes would not impact the
noise level off the property. We also stated that we would not install
new lighting, that we would use the existing lighting on the grounds
and move lights to lower poles in the location's we would needed light
to be for the MX races. Concluding there would be no additional light.
We also presented answers to rescue, time of events, days, etc. After
presenting all the "right" answers, the board stated that the town of
Paris residence do not want any additional nuisance, therefore stating
that the board has to follow their residence request and deny our
petition. This is not over. There is no definitive answer yet. We will
be meeting with the Town of Paris board next week, then we go to the
Kenosha County Plan and Commission board, then to the Kenosha County
board. Anyone of these three boards can approve our petition. We will
update you after each meeting as to our progress.
At this point, unfortunately we will have to cancel our October 20/21
scheduled races.
As soon as I know where the meeting is for next week Tuesday (Aug 28)
I will post it.
As always, we THANK everyone for your continued support and we THANK
all that helped with our noise study done on Aug 2!
Thank You,
Erin Aune
Moto Promo's
Update
July 10, 2007:
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT ATTENDED LAST NIGHT!! STANDING ROOM
ONLY!
The focus of the meeting was motocross - the town residents focused on
the Dragstrip noise and lights, which was commented on at the end of
the meeting that not one resident specifically said they were against
the motocross, but against the Dragstrip as a "whole", which yes has
been there long before them. And again adding to the already nuisance
the track is to some residence. There were several comments made about
the noise of tractors, planes, semi's, and light and noise from ball
fields, stating that no one complains about them, and that the "cookie
cutter" sport is not for everyone.
The chairperson has ordered the board to have a list of specific
concerns on his desk Friday morning, which sounded like the main
concerns are additional lights and noise. Then we will be informed and
conduct tests to get the facts to present back to them on August 20.
It was also stated by the chair that he didn't feel it was necessary
to waste time and more money for these tests and another meeting if
the board was going to vote no. It was voted 4-3 (our favor) (2 people
up there get no vote) to table the meeting to get this done and
present in August leading us to believe that we already have 4 of them
on our side and maybe can get the other 3, hopefully.
Unfortunately we will not know the outcome until Aug 20, but I can
assure you, that Jamie and I, along with the Great Lakes Dragaway
staff will do everything we possibly can to get the boards approval.
If anyone can attend the Aug. 20 meeting again, that would be greatly
appreciated.
At this time the September 16 d16/Triplecross is cancelled, and I will
talk with Yamaha to request that the contingency is moved to another
track, my guess it will go to Aztalan as they are the only original
track of Triplecross left. We are keeping our October races scheduled
at this point, as they are "day" races and the lighting can be last to
install, hopefully it will happen if we can get all the work done from
Aug. 21 to Oct. 20.
If anyone would like to contact me personally they may do so at
aune@tds.net, or call 262-895-2469.
Again THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT, we cant do it without you.
Thanks,
Erin Aune
Moto Promo's
Update
June 29, 2007:
Meeting has been rescheduled for JULY 10, 7pm.
NEW LOCATION - Kenosha County Center, corners of HWY 45 & Hwy 50.
This facility is larger than the town building and the board thought
it would be better to have the meeting there, as they (and we) are
expecting A LOT of support. PLEASE bring as many people as you can,
and THANK YOU again for your continued support.
Moto Promo’s, Inc.
Update
June 19, 2007:
The planning and commission meeting at the Town of Paris Safety
Building on June 18 was cancelled due to severe weather and power
outages. We will have a new date soon and I will post it as soon as I
know. Thank you to all who showed up despite the weather and for your
continued support! We hope to see you at the next meeting.
Thank you,
Great Lakes Dragaway and
Moto Promo’s, Inc.
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