ATV Rodeo:

Plans remain uncertain

— Parks and Recreation Committee members are looking at June 12 as a possible date for next year’s ATV Rodeo, but the committee has not decided if the event will include a truck or tractor pull.

At Monday’s committee meeting, Trip Lapham, the committee’s liaison to the city council, reported the only time his brother-in-law’s friends would be able to bring their tractor pulling sled and equipment is June 12. The friends, whom Lapham would only identify as “Margie and Norman,” belong to a large truck and tractor pulling association, he said. The couple and their equipment are booked solid from April through August, he said.

Lapham said he reserved June 12 with the couple and needs to confirm it as soon as possible.

Margie and Norman can bring both a large sled for modern tractors and pick-up trucks, and a small sled for antique tractors, lawnmowers and ATVs, Lapham said. The couple would provide everything, including the judging for the event. They charge individually for each piece of equipment, he said. The big sled costs $250; it was not clear how much the other fees would be.

The possibility of using the fire department brush truck for the lawnmower and ATV pull instead of renting a professional pulling sled was also suggested. In the past, the truck was loaded with water for extra weight and the event was timed.

Although no formal votes were cast, the committee seemed to settle on the idea of starting small and just having a lawnmower and ATV pull this year and then possibly expanding the event in the future.

“If we’re really happy with it, next year we can go full blast,” Tilly said.

Rick Tilly said he would call the tractor pull equipment owners to find out the exact costs and see if he could negotiate with them.

In addition to the pulling competition, the ATV rodeo also includes events like barrel racing and the mud pit.

The next Parks and Recreation Committee meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m., Dec. 28, in the city council room. Anyone interested in joining the committee and helping the city is invited, Mayor Bill Montgomery said.

News, Pages 1 on 12/02/2009