City Unsure If BMX Track Is Worth Saving

WAITSBURG - The Waitsburg City Council members are torn between putting thousands of dollars into the city's seldom-used BMX track or removing it.

The track was put in by the Lion's Club in 2001 for the children to ride and jump their bikes in a safe place.

Dan Katsel, the city's director of public works, said at the council meeting last Wednesday the track has visible large rocks and puncture vine and said the track receives "zero use."

Councilman Orville Branson, said the track was expensive for the club to put in and it is an asset to the community.

"I'm definitely against removing that," Branson said.

Katsel said to get the track into good shape it would need 4 to 6 inches of clean fill dirt.

He said he is also concerned about the puncture vine and if they try to get rid of it, it will creep back onto the track creating a maintenance nightmare for the city.

"And there are thousands of rocks there," Katsel said. "It could be years before it would be viable."

Councilman Kevin House said he just wasn't sure what to do with the track.

"I don't see a lot of kids using it, but if we tear it out, it's gone," House said.

Ci ty Clerk Randy Hinchliffe said the original written agreement explains the Lion's Club, not the city, will pay for the track's maintenance.

The council agreed to ask the club if it would like to take on the maintenance of the track and get it in good shape again.

If the club says no, the council will further look into the issue at future meetings.