Fresh from NMA pres, Tory:
THURSTON COUNTY ORV PARK THREATENED!
This ORV park, with an MX track, kid's track, camping, flat track, hill
climb and trails, located a few miles west of Olympia, is in severe danger
of being shut down by the Thurston County Board of Commissioners. The issue
started over the county's Parks department's new operating plan, which
called for fewer events, slightly higher user fees, and capital
improvements. At hearings, users seemed to be overwhelmingly against the
plan. Subsequent discussions between Parks and the Board not only brought
to light that the Board was likely to vote against the plan, but also that
the Board wants to get out of the ORV opportunity provision business, mostly
due to liability issues, and that they have the votes to do so. A notion
that the group that successfully runs Airway Heights in Spokane as the
break-even facility that Thurston should be, might take it over, has also
apparently been squelched by the Board. There is a meeting at the Thurston
County Courthouse on Monday, November 25, at 9am (this issue should be
debated starting at 9:15). If you care about keeping this park open, and
can get there, do so! Contact Kerry Broten or his wife Joanne 360-249-5657,
bordey@techline.com for more information. Hey, even if you don't care about
Thurston in particular, an awful lot of your fellow riders and their
families do, and just like you'd wish for their support for your favorite
area, you should return the support. If you can't get down there, at least
send a fax or email to the Board, I'm certain the Broten's can get you the
contact information!
Tory Briggs
NMA President
THURSTON COUNTY ORV PARK THREATENED!
This ORV park, with an MX track, kid's track, camping, flat track, hill
climb and trails, located a few miles west of Olympia, is in severe danger
of being shut down by the Thurston County Board of Commissioners. The issue
started over the county's Parks department's new operating plan, which
called for fewer events, slightly higher user fees, and capital
improvements. At hearings, users seemed to be overwhelmingly against the
plan. Subsequent discussions between Parks and the Board not only brought
to light that the Board was likely to vote against the plan, but also that
the Board wants to get out of the ORV opportunity provision business, mostly
due to liability issues, and that they have the votes to do so. A notion
that the group that successfully runs Airway Heights in Spokane as the
break-even facility that Thurston should be, might take it over, has also
apparently been squelched by the Board. There is a meeting at the Thurston
County Courthouse on Monday, November 25, at 9am (this issue should be
debated starting at 9:15). If you care about keeping this park open, and
can get there, do so! Contact Kerry Broten or his wife Joanne 360-249-5657,
bordey@techline.com for more information. Hey, even if you don't care about
Thurston in particular, an awful lot of your fellow riders and their
families do, and just like you'd wish for their support for your favorite
area, you should return the support. If you can't get down there, at least
send a fax or email to the Board, I'm certain the Broten's can get you the
contact information!
Tory Briggs
NMA President