City council declines to allow use of property for commercial event

By: 
Steve Lyon

Members of the Weiser city council declined to allow a tractor and truck pulling sled event that promoters said could bring 500 participants and spectators to town.
 The city council said the Laird property next to Mortimer’s Island has never been used for a commercial event before and allowing an event on Aug. 22 would be unprecedented. There was also concern about COVID-19 and the possibility that a large gathering would take place on city property.
 City officials said they were not opposed to possibly allowing the event in the future and invited the promoters to come back and talk about a 2021 date. Between now and then, the city will develop rules and regulations governing commercial use of the Laird property and come up with a contract.
 Corey and Matt Petero appeared before the city council last month requesting to hold the pulling sled event on city property near Mortimer’s Island. It’s the same location used by the Weiser mud drags every October. While the mud drags are a city fire department fundraiser, the sled pull would be a commercial event that would require rules, regulations and a contract, city officials said.
 The Peteros said the event in Weiser likely would attract spectators and participants from Utah and Oregon, where motorsports events have been closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Idaho is still in stage 4 of reopening, which allows public gatherings.
 The promoters turned to the city for a potential venue for the event after plans to hold it at Fred Hust rodeo arena were cancelled. The Peteros own the Believe Pulling Sled and would be in charge of everything related to the event, including handling concessions and track preparations.
 The sled pulling involves both regular and modified gas and diesel trucks and supercharged, multi-engine tractors. The competition pits rigs against each other to see how far they can drag the Believe Pulling Sled farther down the 350-foot track. The promoters expected 30-40 local trucks to enter the competition, along with pro tractors.
 Council member Dan Randleman offered support for the Peteros and said the event offered a good opportunity to promote economic development and tourism in Weiser.
 “It sounds good to me,” he said.
 In a normal year, the city would probably jump at the chance to host the sled pull and bring in 500 people, council member Larry Hogg said, but 2020 has not been a normal year. He said many events were cancelled in June due to COVID-19 and questioned if it would be fair to let this event happen.
 Council member Cliff Barberis said the event would be a great way to showcase Weiser. He said he would like to see it happen as long as the number of COVID-19 cases do not skyrocket.
 After hearing the plans for the event, city council members decided not to act immediately on the request and referred the issue to a city committee to review. They told the promoters they would have a decision by July 29. The Peteros were hoping to hold the sled pull on Aug. 22.
 The committee took up the proposed event and forwarded a recommendation to the city council that it not be allowed this year. The city council upheld the committee’s recommendations at a special council meeting on July 27.
 Following the city council’s decision, Mayor Randy Hibberd said the committee reviewed the proposed event and decided that the city was not prepared to enter into a contract right now to allow commercial events on the Laird property.
 Hibberd said the city didn’t want to rush into an agreement. If the city council decides to move forward with allowing commercial use of the property in the future, it will be a thorough process to cover any and all liability issues.
 The number of people that might attend from out of state as Weiser’s COVID-19 cases continue to go up was also raised during discussion. The promoters said they could cancel the event with 48 hours notice.
 

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Signal American

18 E. Idaho St.
Weiser, ID 83672
PH: (208) 549-1717
FAX: (208) 549-1718
 

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