Port considers future of motocross track

By Brent Shrum Western News Reporter

The Lincoln County Port Authority is considering its options regarding a local motocross group¹s use of a portion of the former Stimson mill site.

Last spring, the port authority granted the group rights to use the property for one year. At a meeting on Monday, port authority board members discussed the merits of renewing the agreement with the group versus putting the property up for sale.

Representing the motocross group, Robb MacDonald told the board that he doesn¹t see the track as a money-making venture.

³Basically all we want to do is provide recreational opportunities for people in the community,² he said.

An event held at the site in September drew 100 riders and 1,300 spectators, MacDonald said. He said the group is considering future improvements to the site including building bleachers and permanent restrooms.

Port authority board member Stan Kargol asked MacDonald if his group would be interested in buying the property.

³A long-term lease, you might as well give it away,² Kargol said.

He suggested that the port authority might want to put the land up for sale to see if anyone is interested in buying it. Revenues from the sale could fund the development of the industrial portion of the site, he said. He asked if the motocross group might consider a month-to-month lease.

³I don¹t think that allows them to operate it,² said board chairman Jim Mayo, explaining that the group needs to be able to plan events on the site.

Board member Amy Guth pointed out that the port authority¹s agreement with the motocross group states that any improvements to the site become the property of the port authority. She suggested that the board should make a decision on whether the property will be retained or sold.

³At some point we have to decide we¹re not stringing these people along anymore,² she said.

Board member Dan Larson said he sees the economic benefits events like motocross races can bring to the community.

³If they bring 200, 300, 400 people to Libby, that¹s commerce for a group of people,² he said.

Kargol said he¹d like to see the port authority make money from the property, either by selling it or by obtaining a paid lease. MacDonald said he thinks the group can make lease payments, but it will need to know how much the port authority will require. The group isn¹t formally organized as a club with membership dues and fees, but the issue has been discussed, he said.

MacDonald and Guth also reported that they are working together on liability and insurance coverage questions that need to be resolved before the group can make any long-term plans. The issue is scheduled to be discussed further at the port authority¹s next meeting on Jan. 10.