Parks & Recreation panel defines temporary

Defining temporary as two years, Douglas County Parks & Recreation Commissioners recommended renewal Tuesday night of the Nevada Motocross Park across from the Douglas County Fairgrounds.

Organizers said they are pursuing a larger site further away from homes, and that they would abide by the two year limit.

About four dozen people attended the Tuesday night session at the Douglas County Senior Center. Five Ruhenstroth residents spoke against the project. Many of the proponents were motorcycle riders, at least one of whom lives in Ruhenstroth.

"Several residents are opposed to this location, not the event," Ruhenstroth resident Teresa Manning said. "We are concerned with the increased number of event days spread over eight months of the year. This is a general nuisance to us and interferes with the rightful use of our property."

However, Ruhenstroth resident Greg Lee countered that the community is located a mile from the track.

"You moved near the dump, the dog pound, the fairgrounds, the shooting range, the model airplane field and two gravel pits," he pointed out. "The track is located a mile away. You can't see it."

Under the new application, there would be a dozen event weeks split between spring and fall with 36 use days for the year. Most of the events would be Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. In order to use the fairgrounds, promoters would have to make a separate application. If any of the events rose to the level where they were covered under the festival permit, they would have to apply separately and abide by those conditions.

Community Services Director Scott Morgan said the county included a motocross event in its strategic plan.

The county is charging $50 per event day with a $500 deposit per year. This year the county will charge $3 per 1,000 gallons of water, which is the fee the Gardnerville Water Co. charges builders.

"It's the highest water rate in Douglas County," Morgan said. He said the motocross park uses far less water than Lampe Park.

He admitted that the site across from the fairgrounds isn't the best location.

"We are strongly interested in finding a permanent location," he said. "This is not the best location because of its proximity to houses. The developers are working diligently on finding a private site."

Morgan said the county sent out 700 notices to homes surrounding the park.

Parks commissioners debated requiring some sort of evidence that developers were diligently pursuing a permanent track.

Chairwoman Kelly Gardner suggested approving the first year, but requiring developers show some tangible evidence they were making progress on a permanent track.

"If after one year they are making progress, then we could grant them the second year," she said.

But other commissioners questioned how progress would be measured.

Commissioner Tom Moore proposed a two-year, nonrenewable contract. The commission voted 6-0 to recommend the renewal.

Pinenut Manor resident Susan Cryderman said she felt it was irresponsible for the county to underwrite the park when there was the chance that it might have to defend a lawsuit.

A more direct legal threat was made by resident Joyce O. Eckrem, who in a letter to Morgan said she would seek to stop the motocross park in the courts.

"We will use all available legal means to see that the events are stopped altogether until a permanent, suitable site away from residential areas is established," she said.

After the meeting, in an e-mail to County Commissioner Doug Johnson, Eckrem questioned whether the parks commission could prevent a future board from hearing the application.

Douglas County commissioners are scheduled to discuss the application at their Feb. 4 meeting in Minden.