By Michael Howell
Three Ravalli County Commissioners put the nails in the coffin last week on a proposal to install a motor sports race track at the Ravalli County Fairgrounds. The idea has been contentious since it was first proposed and drew some stiff resistance from people living in the area.
No one from the public spoke against the race track proposal at the latest meeting. Several people did speak in favor of it. But primarily the commissioners heard from Paul Vanlandingham, a student at Montana Tech, who performed a study of the potential noise impacts of a race track at the fairgrounds as his senior project.
Using sound wave formulas and special software the potential noise levels were calculated for different style cars, with and without mufflers, with and without sound barriers at various distances. According to the results, only a few houses in the area would be impacted by the noise levels and these impacts would be minor, something on the order of a quiet library.
Jeff Carter, who has worked hard at promoting the race track and helped arrange to have the sound study done, gave the commissioners his final pitch. He said the study proves that the sound from the race track could be mitigated. He said each race event could bring as much as $10,350 into the community. It could produce up to $60,000 per year in revenue for the fairgrounds, he said.
Fairgrounds Manager Cryss Anderson also spoke in favor of the track. She said the sound study had “de-mystified” the noise level issue and she would like to see the project move forward. She said it would further diversify activities at the fairgrounds and provide another alternative source of revenue.
Half a dozen other people also spoke in favor of the project.
Commissioner Doug Schallenberger said that, based on the whole scope of things, the other meetings and the total public comment, he was against locating the track at the fairgrounds.
“I’m totally in favor of the race track,” said Schallenberger, “but I’m against the location. Even if the sound is mitigated, I’m against it in the middle of town.”
Commission Chair Ray Hawk agreed.
“It’s a great idea, but some other place. I suggest you try something in the country,” said Hawk.
Commissioner J.R. Iman noted that 600 signatures of landowners were submitted in a petition against locating the track at the fairgrounds. He said there were over a thousand homes within a half mile of the fairgrounds whose owners had purchased the property with expectations.
“I agree with the benefits of this proposal,” he said, “but not the location.”
Carter made one last effort to sway the commissioners. He said that there is already a noise level in town that the race track noise could blend into. He said putting it out in the country where it is mostly quiet didn’t make sense.
The commissioners voted 3 to 0 for the county to not approve a motor sports race track at the fairgrounds. Commissioners Greg Chilcott and Jeff Burrows were absent.