From Carolyn Gerding, posted on the Mar Park froum at 2:30pm January 5th 2012.

Montgomery County’s Judge Keith Sutherland has denied the Motions to Dismiss of Mid America Raceway Park and the Montgomery County Commission. No explanation or reasoning was given. He also entered an Order Granting Leave to File Amended Petition which allowed the Plaintiffs to file a Verified Amended Petition for Review of Writ of Certiorari. This purportedly corrects the items MARP and the County Commission claimed were incorrect in their Motions to Dismiss.
The documents are file-stamped December 28, but they did not reach the Montgomery County Circuit Clerk’s office or get entered into CaseNet until Thurs., Jan. 5 when Judge Sutherland appeared for Law Day. Sutherland is the Presiding Judge over the 12th Circuit which consists of Montgomery, Warren, and Audrain Counties.
It is now up to the attorneys to request a trial date, unless more motions are filed.
Ronnie Moss, lead developer of Mid America Raceway Park, said that he and his partners are not letting this stop them. The Conditional Use Permit which was issued by the County Commission is still in effect and they can legally proceed if they want to. Moss said , “MAR Park is going to continue on. This is just another bump in the road, but if the Good Lord is willing, MAR will prevail. We have a lot of supporters and Montgomery County wants the drag strip as much as MAR wants to call Montgomery County and the City of New Florence our new home. MAR Park will have a big positive economic impact not only for Montgomery County, but also for Warren County and other surrounding counties. ”
Moss also said that he and partners Steve Stahlschmidt and Dave Hemsath are going to Kansas City for the NHRA Division 5 track owners meeting on Jan. 20 and 21. Moss said, “We will also have people taking track safety courses and getting more people SFI certified as inspectors. We are also still purchasing stuff for the track and getting more things ready so there is less we have to do after construction is complete. We are still gathering materials which will either be delivered to the property or to our secured location.”

Carolyn Gerding

carolyngerding@gmail.com