Mid America Raceway ground breaking video.


Category Archives: Mid America Raceway

MAR Park hits another bump in the road.

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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

Plans to build race track are approved.

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Here is the latest Mid America Raceway news.

The final meeting of the Montgomery County Commission on Thurs., Oct. 6 which resulted in the long-awaited approval of Ronnie Moss’s application to build a drag strip on what is now farm ground on the South Outer Road between the New Florence and Danville exits of I-70 was either anticlimactic or a relief, depending on your point of view.

Drama seemed to prevail throughout the entire process up to this point, which included a total of four Planning and Zoning meetings; multiple appearances in the County Commission chambers; three different site plans (available as downloadable PDFs below article) to first satisfy Ameren UE and then leave an easement undisturbed; an appearance by attorney Mike Seamands from respected St. Louis law firm Lashly Baer who seemed ready to fight for the eight clients adamantly opposed he said he represents; and countless passionate speeches, letters, and emails, both in favor and in opposition.

It seemed that everyone had an opinion: full time Montgomery County residents, people who own land in close proximity to the site but spend the majority of their time in their primary homes elsewhere, and racers from near and far who have no ties to Montgomery County but said they want to spend their money here once the drag strip is built.

The final meeting was in stark contrast to preceding events — the only persons present were Planning and Zoning Administrator Donna Viehmann, who presented the P&Z findings to the Commission; the Commissioners themselves; County Clerk Pamela Cartee who took the statutorily required notes (minutes); applicant Moss; and one of Moss’ partners, Steve Stahlschmidt, who was accompanied by one other supporter.

The last discussion took approximately a half hour and consisted of Second District Commissioner John Noltensmeyer (pictured above) asking a few last housekeeping questions which were discussed with Presiding Commissioner Ryan Poston and First District Commissioner Rich Daniels.

Noltensmeyer began by asking Moss about the operating hours, specifically the caveat which said the schedule could be altered due to reasons beyond control of track personnel, but had no limitations listed.

Noltensmeyer said, “I understand that is probably reasonable, but I guarantee you if we let that fly, every time it runs to ten thirty or quarter to eleven when it was supposed to shut down at ten o’clock, I’m going to get a phone call, you’ll probably get phone calls, and the Sheriff will get phone calls. We’ve been down that road on other permits. We’ve got to have some kind of a drop-dead, something to hang my hat on, because if not, every time I receive one of those phone calls, I will have to investigate, find out why, be sure it was right, then return the phone call.”

After some discussion back and forth, it was ultimately decided that there would be set closing times with some allowances for extenuating circumstances, to be used only if they were of adequate cause – weather, accident, and track equipment failure only.

On Wednesdays the drag strip must shut down at 9 pm, regardless of any special situations, on Fridays and Saturdays the scheduled closing time is 10 pm with allowances up to midnight if necessary, and scheduled closing on Sundays is 6 pm with allowances to 8 pm if necessary.

Noltensmeyer then suggested that during excavation, Moss push up a 12 to 15 foot tall dirt berm at the far southern end of the track past the sand pit in the shape of a horseshoe, which he said would cut the noise by more than half. Moss agreed.

Noltensmeyer’s final suggestion was to design a clay line catch basin to slow down storm water which would contain any spillage that cannot be adequately contained on the track, which Moss also agreed to.

This was quickly followed by a motion to approve the application with the changes and extra conditions which had just been discussed, which was unanimously carried.

Next on Moss’ agenda is getting the corn crop which is currently on the site harvested so that ground can be broken and construction can begin.

Article can also be read here.  http://montgomeryandme.com/?q=content/dramatic-race-approve-drag-strip-completed-without-fanfare

Ground breaking ceremony is scheduled for October 22nd 2011 at 10am. Everyone is welcome to attend.

County Commission sends drag strip…

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County Commission sends drag strip application back to Planning and Zoning

Story by Carolyn Gerding

File photo by Jeff Noedel

When the Montgomery County Commission finished the closed meeting after speaking with attorney Ivan Schrader on the afternoon of Thurs., Sept. 29, they allowed the public to return so they could continue to discuss the application for a conditional use permit for developer Ronnie Moss to build a drag strip outside of New Florence.

Commissioner John Noltensmeyer said, “We will be sending the report from the Planning and Zoning Commission back to the [Planning and Zoning] Administrator for a little clarification and the findings of fact and law and to have a new plat adopted into their findings and then get the approval of the zoning board and sent back to us. I don’t know how quickly the Administrator will be able to get the board together, but the board will have to meet one more time and then turn back around and send it back to us.”

He added that it will be an open meeting to formally adopt their findings of fact and law and include the new site plan in their findings but that he didn’t believe the public would be allowed to comment. The Commission will then have another 30 days after P&Z returns it to them to make a decision. Noltensmeyer said he hopes they won’t need another 30 days. “Everything gets clarified and the bottom line is we will make a decision, but we’re going to be sure that all of our I’s are dotted and all of our T’s are crossed first.”

Moss said that he can start construction as soon as the crops are out of the field. “We have to play the Mother Nature game but the main thing is to get all the concrete in place. I can build the tower with bad weather and put in a concession stand. The grandstands in place in bad weather, I can do all that. It’s different than building a house. The main thing is to get all the concrete placed. “

After the decision was announced, Moss told MontgomeryAndMe.com, “I think with the Commission sending it back to Planning and Zoning to do approval on the slight reconfiguration on the track will be beneficial to Mid America Raceway Park and the easement land owners. That was their concern about the faculty as stated by their atty, that they would ot be able to get egress and ingress to their property and with us moving it, then this will allow them egress and ingress of their property. It’s a slight inconvenience for us but I’d rather have the inconvenience for us than the surrounding landowners because we want to marry nicely wit our community and get along just like a big happy family.”

Moss presents new drag strip layout

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Moss presents new drag strip layout – may render easement issue irrelevant – Commission consults attorney

 

Story and Photos by Carolyn Gerding

There were ten Montgomery County residents in the County Commission chambers this morning when the Commission began its session, including lead developer of the proposed Mid America Raceway Park Ronnie Moss. Some spoke in favor of building the drag strip, some did not speak at all, but no one voiced any opposition.

Julie Nordman, who lives near the proposed site, said, “We are Montgomery County taxpayers who live here full time and support MAR Park and Ronnie Moss 100 percent.”

Ted Daleen told the Commission that he thinks if the drag strip is built it will increase business and commerce, and more people will invest in Montgomery County.

Rhineland Alderman Larry Hagedorn said he represents the southern half of Montgomery County and has gotten multiple calls from people asking him to speak on their behalf in favor of the project as some are not comfortable speaking publicly and some have schedules that do not allow them to attend the meeting.

Hagedorn also said he has not had a single person speak against the drag strip and he will help Moss organize youth activities if it is built. He said there are a lot of young people racing on the street and they need to have somewhere to race safely.

Katie Johnson said of the landowners in opposition who do not live in Montgomery County full time, “They’re holding us back. They go home and enjoy what they don’t want us to have. It just doesn’t seem right,” and added that the drag strip would put Montgomery County on the map, and that if noise is an issue to some people, they can purchase ear plugs.

Johson asked the Commission if there is anything citizens can do to help get the application approved, and First District Commissioner Rich Daniels told her, “You’ve already spoken volumes,” and that he appreciates residents coming in to voice their opinion.

 

When the issue of the easement for the access road that runs across the current site plan for the drag strip was raised, Second District Commissioner John Noltensmeyer said, “I have over the last 3 or 4 days learned more about easements. The Missouri easement law is very specific. I’m not an attorney but here’s what I understand about the easement at this point. If an easement is on somebody’s deed, an easement is granted, and if it starts at this specific point and it runs this direction, this wide, for so far, the person that received the granting of that easement is pretty much in control.”

“You still own the property but you don’t control that part anymore. Unless everyone who holds that easement agrees to move, you can’t just move it. If you do, at this point in time, I think there is grounds for a lawsuit that I think could drag on for years. We will know more on October sixth when we meet privately with our county attorney. I looked at what Ronnie’s offered to do [move and upgrade the access road] and it’s an improvement, but I don’t know, and until I get a legal opinion, I don’t think it can be moved without their permission.”

Daniels said that the Commission has to look at the county as a whole to try to keep the county out of ligation because the easement itself doesn’t involve the County and is strictly between the parties.

Moss said that the landowners surrounding the property who are in opposition to the drag strip are “just using that roadway just as leverage. We all know that.”

Moss said he could pivot the layout of the track to avoid the land that is affected by the easement and make it work on the property. He did not have it drawn out, but demonstrated to the Commissioners on a map how he could do it. He said he can swing it around and will have to clear out some trees and do some more excavating, but is well within the budget.

Noltensmeyer told Moss, “I strongly suggest that you re-draw it that way and submit it to us with a letter with your intent to construct as per the final drawing. I think that would be in your benefit… then the easement issue would be out of the equation. “

Moss also provided the Commission with an updated business plan and said that he had given it to his bank and the Small Business Administration. He said that that the project is expected to cost around $1 million to complete and that the requirement is to have 15% down, but there is currently 20% available.

Moss returned a little before noon and submitted the new drawing and the Letter of Intent.  The Commision took a lunch break shortly thereafter.

At 2:00 pm the Commission placed a call to attorney Ivan Schrader and went into a closed session.

:UPDATE: Mid America Raceway Project.

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This statement is from “Richter Racing” in a topic on LETHAL1320.com

The MAJORITY of the townspeople seem to be on-board. There are only a select “group” of residents that are opposing. (This is the same group that cried when their one huge source of revenue closed down and they wanted to raise the school taxes.) We have no problems with Lincoln County. From my understanding of listening to Shawn’s side of the conversations with Ronnie Moss, Lincoln County is 100% ON-BOARD for this project. Eolia, technically, has NO say, as they are located in PIKE county. 100% of the property is in Lincoln County and does not extend into Pike. The benefit that Eolia will see will be in the school taxes that are being assessed on the property/facility. The track IS located in Lincoln County, but it is in the PIKE County School District of Clopton. Not only will they have the revenue from the taxes, Ronnie is WHOLEHEARTEDLY wanting to get the school districts in BOTH counties involved. They plan on making the track available to the schools for fund raising events and allow the students to work the track to earn money for their school.

We have been contacted by SEVERAL local residents that say the number of residents that WANT the track far exceed the number of residents against it. We welcome you to come join the forum. If you LIVE in Eolia, we encourage you to post YOUR thoughts under the board “Residents of Eolia”, in the topic entitled “Ok folks let your feelings be known”. This topic is for Eolia residents ONLY please. We plan on printing this particular topic and setting up a meeting with the town council and showing them how much support we have received. We have residents that have contacted us and are going to be going around with a petition for the people who are FOR this development. (If they can do a petition against it, why can’t we do one for it??) We invite ALL to join in on this meeting that will be affected in the area to come and voice your opinion, be it FOR the track, OR against it.

Shawn has spent the last two days sitting at the computer answering e-mails and posts on the forum. So much time, that the only time I get to see him is when he breaks for coffee or a smoke break. We are STILL pursuing this track 100%!!!!!!!!!!! Please do NOT give up! One way or another, this WILL happen. Shawn is very business minded and once he has his mind set to do something, he usually makes it happen

The original post can be found here. www.lethal1320.com Comments are welcome.

*Breaking News* Plans for Mid America Raceway Park are released.

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The official release was announced here….
The website for Mid-America Raceway Park is now live. This site is still under construction, this was just put together tonight so that something is out there. There is a Live Chat available at this time.  Please keep e-mails to a minimum. Shawn will be posting information in the upcoming days. You can find it at http://www.marpark.net

Also, here is a picture of the drawing that was available at the MAR Reunion Car Show for anyone interested. The property is located on the east side of Highway 61. It runs from Hwy 61 over to Cannonball Road and from Hwy D (Eolia Exit) to Hwy F (Operators Training School).