Developers of the proposed Minonk Raceway met with members of Minonk's Economic Development Committee on July 28, 2005 to discuss the status of the development.  Developer Randy Hellyer said they plan to start Phase I in mid to late winter with the worst being the spring of 2006.  Development of the commercial park of the project is scheduled to start with infrastructure construction this fall.

Hellyer said they are using Dale Engineering for development of the raceway park and a few changes have been made to the initial design.  He added that there could be as many as 29 commercial lots developed instead of the original plan for 14.  Developers could purchase the land as early as late summer or early fall.

Operations Manager Joe Spence said that small events would require one cop to drive through the lots 2 to 4 times a night and one cop to stand at the ticket office.  National events would require constant police presence and potentially 6 officers for a 5 day event.

Hellyer and Spence emphaszied that local vendors will have a chance to bid for the vendor slots available at the raceway.  Non-profit and EMT, the Fire Department, and the churches would get first crack at being vendors.  There also may be vendor fees during big events.

Alderman Jason Buchanan said everything was progressing nicely.  He said that the city will have regular meetings with the developers beginning this fall.

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