An effort to hold up to 10 motocross events at a new track adjacent to the Lyon County Fair Grounds has been grounded by county officials.

Lyon County Commissioners voted 3-1 to deny the holding of any motocross races at the Cottonwood Lane area track until all issues between the event holder, Fair Board and neighborhood resident are worked out.  Commissioner Don Tibbals, the lone dissenting vote, expressed a desire to allow up to five events – allowing time to see if concerns could be alleviated.  Commissioner Larry McPherson was absent from the meeting.

Commissioner Phyllis Hunewill said she was hesitant to approve any further racing events until previous agreements with neighborhood residents could be honored.

“When the County purchased that extra property out there from Tom Reviglio for the fairgrounds a few years back, we made an agreement with the neighbors in that area about the type of event that would be held next to their homes.  I do not believe, because I worked on it at that time and I worked with the neighbors...we made promises out there that we were going to put a buffer area between their homes and any events that were on that fairgrounds just because of the concerns that you had,” Hunewill stated.  “I just want to put it on the record I do not think this is an event that we had agreed would be in that area without the buffer area....I don’t think we are doing what the neighbors asked us for and I have a concern whether we are really communicating with them enough.”

Commissioner Chuck Roberts said he has attended events put on by the motocross promoter (Shane Kissman) and he appears to do a good job in doing what he says he is going to do; however, he also expressed concern with an apparent lack of effort on behalf of the race promoter and fair board to work with the neighborhood residents.

“I was not convinced today that there was a dialogue between the promoter and at least a substantial number of residents.  I would like to see these events take place....but I haven’t seen the cooperation and I don’t think cooperation is something that gets worked out after the fact.  It has to be worked out before the fact,” Roberts said in support of Hunewill’s motion to deny any races until concerns are worked out.

Commissioner Don Tibbals previously made a motion to allow up to five events, but it died for lack of a second.  He suggested the commission “meet them half-way and cut the proposed number of events in half, and “If they don’t get the buffer zone in they talked about and the noise continues the way it is, I think we ought to discontinue it.”

Speaking against the proposed 10 events, area residents repeated many of the same concerns expressed at previous meetings.  Some brought photos to support their concerns:

• Unbearable noise and fumes
• Unbearable dust created by the preparation of the track and races
•  Between preparation prior to each event and repairing the race track after each event, each event impacts the neighborhood for up to five days
• It is simply not a good spot for such an activity – too close to residential area
• Washoe County recently approved an ordinance prohibiting such event close than 1,000 feet from residential areas (the track is approximately 600 feet from the Cottonwood Lane area)
• Lack of effort by the Fair Board to communicate with area residents
• Lack of adequate notification of Fair Board meetings and posting of agendas

Race Promoter Shane Kissman said he had gone through great lengths to accommodate homeowner concerns, including efforts to deflect the noise from the neighborhood.  He noted changes made after the first races to accommodate complaints – including restricting the race hours, increased watering efforts.  He apologized for the two-week “construction zone” scenario in preparation time prior to the first event, but said “it does take a little bit of time.  It doesn’t just happen over night.”

He said they dropped over 100,000 gallons of water in efforts to keep the dust under control and imported all their equipment

“In listening to testimony on other issues today, all I’ve heard is budget cuts, downsizing the economy.  I’ve come to your community and I’ve asked for nothing.  I’ve not asked for a water truck, equipment graders, anything.  We do have an impact on your community – hotels, restaurants, whatever,” Kissman told the board.  “The people that come here wouldn’t come here if it weren’t for an event.......so, we are trying to bring people into your community to spend their money and help your economy.”

Residents speaking is support of the motocross events said efforts have been made to accommodate homeowners:

• The motocross races are no louder than other annual events held within the fairground facility
• Little dust is created
• Efforts have been made to keep participants away from the residential area
• Compromise is needed - such youth activities are needed in the community
• Need the opportunity to bring revenues into the community

Commissioner Hunewill suggested other areas might be considered, suggesting the Wilson Canyon area might offer a suitable location.  Questions were raised as to the legality of using the BLM land for this purpose; however, Hunewill said BLM land is available for just such activities. 

County Engineer Dick Faber said having the necessary county employees on site for each event would cost the county approximately $15,000 per year.  He did a slide presentation with ground and aerial views and maps of the area.

The race track is located on approximately 16 acres in the north east corner of approximately 68 acres of county property.