SPOKANE COUNTY-- On the schedule, the discussion was on safety improvements at Spokane County Raceway. But Tuesday’s commissioner meeting dissolved into bickering and political rhetoric between the elected officials.
Parks officials want to realign the road course at Spokane County Raceway to improve safety. That would cost more than $600,000. In the end, it was approved, but not without a long fight.
The solution is to realign the road course, giving vendors, employees, and fans easier access to the track. A track, commissioner Bonnie Mager, has thought from day one should not be owned by the county.
Spokane County bought the raceway in 2008 for $4.3 million. Since then, the county has been forced to cut people, hours, and programs. As discussion on the safety improvements dragged on, the commissioners started to turn on each other about how much is being spent to clean up environmental issues at the track, $5 million or $1 million.
Amidst all the noise, the issue was over wells around the track that monitor contamination. Officials say the property looks cleaner but Commissioner Bonnie Mager says the tests aren’t enough. The safety improvements were approved. Supporters say the new road course will help the track’s future.
