By Carla Gwaltney Owens Sentinel writer
March 14, 2007
Residents in the Brasstown Community are all fired up about the new ATV and Motocross track which was recently opened by a local family. Some residents are fired up in favor of the track and others are fired up against it. It depends on who you ask as to whether the opening of this new business is a good addition to the community or not.
Land owners in the immediate area are not so sure they want dirt bikes and ATVs racing full throttle right next door, creating noise problems and, in their opinion, bringing down property values in the area.
However, those who love to ride dirt bikes and four wheelers are glad to see the addition to the community. The opening of Brasstown Possum Trails and NAT Trac, in their opinion, gives them a place close to home to enjoy riding. Now, instead of having to load up their ATVs and drive several hours to other states including Tennessee and Georgia, local riders can simply drive across town or up the road to a dirt track and enjoy a few hours of fun. The track is located on 4.6 acres in the Brasstown Community near Tri-County Raceway.
At Thursday evening's Clay County Commission meeting, several concerns were raised by land owners in the Brasstown Community, including Barbara Willis who lives near the track. Willis came before the Clay County Board of Commissioners specifically mentioning the lack of insurance and safety rules and regulations at the track. Willis said that to her knowledge there are no certified instructors employed at the track, and she also questioned whether or not proper insurance coverage has been obtained in case of an accident or death.
In addition, Willis complained to commissioners that the placement of the track in the area will cause the value of her property and other surrounding properties to drop due to the nature of the sport and the increase in noise and traffic in the area.
In defense of the accusations raised by Willis, owners of the track said that they have insurance and are complying with all North Carolina laws. Specifically, the owners told commissioners that they have met with representatives from the state and are in the process of making all necessary changes at the site.
And although the track is open to riders, co-owner Stacie Adams said they will not hold the first competition until April. She said that they are currently looking into the possibility of having a nurse on site. Willis questioned how the owners could possibly have medical personnel on site all the time when they are open seven days a week from 10 a.m. until dark and 1 p.m. to dark on Sundays.
"We are very new," she told commissioners. "You are welcome to come and see what we are doing. We are straight across from Tri-County Raceway, and most of our neighbors are happy we are doing this."
Adams and several other family members are partners in the new business, including Pat Adams, Cesily Adams, and Jamie and ShawnWoody. She continued to assure commissioners that she and her family are taking all the necessary safety precautions and that theyhave built a very safe dirt track. "We are working with the state, with the N.orth Carolina Department of Natural Resources and the Corps of Engineers. They are helping us with an erosion control plan," she stated. "The state has told us what we need to do to be in compliance with the laws and we are doing it."
The Hayesville Town Hall was full Thursday evening, with many of those in the packed room there to support the new race track. Several chose to speak to the commission saying that they were glad to finally have a place to enjoy their sport close to home. They also all agreed that motocross racing, like many other sports, has inherent dangers of which all riders are well aware.
In addition, supporters told commissioners that the revenue the track will bring to the county will be a positive impact onthe entire community. They said that when racers come to events to be held at the track they will need a place to stay, gas for their vehicles and food for their stomachs, a lot of which will be purchased in Clay County.
Jack Phillips, an experienced rider present Thursday evening, told commissioners that he participated in motocross for years and, as a former EMT/Paramedic, he volunteered to serve often during racing events. Phillips told commissioners that he did not feel that having necessary medical personnel on-site during races would be a problem for the owners. Phillips added that many EMT/Paramedics must have so many hours of training and that volunteering at the race track would count toward those hours.
"I don't see a problem with getting help from the fire department and ambulance service to cover the races," Phillips told commissioners.
One mother present Thursday shared her thoughts with Commissioners, saying that her sons love to ride and that they often have to travel long distances to find a place to ride. The new track, she said, will not only give her children an opportunity to ride more often since it will be close to home, but it will also give her the opportunity to go with them and enjoy seeing them ride.
Supporters who have raced for years told commissioners that owning and operating a track is a labor of love and not a way to get rich. "There is not much money generated for the owners," one man commented. "The revenues generated will be for motels and restaurants."
As far as anything the county can do for the residents who are concerned about the noise nuisance to the surroundi n g n e i g h b o r h o o d , Commissioner Harry Jarrett told those present that the county cannot really do anything. "We don't have a noise ordinance," he told those living in the immediate area who are not glad to see the track open.
Concerning the issue of regulations governing such sporting venues, commissioners said that all those regulations are enforced by the state, and the county has no jurisdiction. So, if the owners receive state approval for their track and are in compliance with any and all state and federal regulations then they are free to operate their track.
Several land owners who were present Thursday voiced their concern about the value of their property dropping once the track is fully operational. One owner said that his house is so close to one portion of the track that he and his family cannot hear when they are in their yard or have their windows open. He asked commissioners what they would do if it were their homes that were effected. "What if it was right next door to your house?" he asked.
The land owner, who said he owns approximately 25 acres next door to the track, is also worried about selling his land in the future. He told commissioners that as a working class citizen he needs the assurance that if he ever needs to, he can sell some of his property to cover unexpected expenses. Declining property values, he said, would have a severe impact on his family.
Although Commissioners sympathized with the plight of these land owners, they said that it was basically out of their hands. If the state regulations are met by the tracks' owners then the track can operate.
Commissioners asked that copies of all the papers the owners have received from the state be given to County Manager Paul Leek for the county's records. Commissioners also stressed concerns about safety at the track, asking owners to make sure they are doing everything possible to make the track as safe as possible for the young people who will be using it.
The Brasstown Possum Trails and NAT TRAC are located off Brasstown Road on Mason Road. Helmets are required for all riders, and a consent form must be signed. The track is open seven days a week and the cost is $10 per person for an entire day. There are tracks for beginners, intermediate and experienced riders.
Article Reference:
New racetrack brings noise
