MISSOURI: Montgomery Archives

UPDATE TUES., OCT. 4: First District Montgomery County Commissioner Rich Daniels told MontgomeryAndMe.com on Tuesday morning that the Commission would be out of the office most of the day on Thurs., Oct. 6 for a Northeast Missouri Commissioners & Clerks meeting in Hannibal and would likely not have much time to consider Ronnie Moss’ application. The next scheduled meeting is Mon., Oct. 10.

ORIGINAL STORY:  The Montgomery County Planning and Zoning Commission met the evening of Mon., Oct. 3, 2011 to once again review developer Ronnie Moss’ application for a conditional use permit to build a drag strip to be named Mid America Raceway Park on the south service road outside of New Florence.

P&Z had previously voted 5-1 on Sept. 21 to approve the application. It was then presented to the Montgomery County Commission, which considered it briefly on Sept. 26 and for most of the day on Sept. 29.

The Commission zeroed in on Moss’ plan to move an access road that nearby property owners use to gain access to their land, specifically issues regarding an easement over that access road which use of the road specifically where it is located.  

Attorney Mike Seamand of St. Louis told P&Z during the public hearing on Sept. 21 that he represents eight owners who object to moving it.  Moss eliminated that concern on Sept. 29 by presenting the Commission with a new site plan to pivot the location of the drag strip on the same property which would not disturb the location of the access road. He said this placement of the drag strip would necessitate excavating some trees, but that would be well within the budget for the project.

After some discussion with attorney Ivan Schrader, the Commission referred the application back to P&Z which discussed it on Mon., Oct. 3. When the meeting opened, Administrator Donna Viehmann briefly explained to the P&Z Commission why the County Commission had referred Moss' conditional use application back to them.  After about five minutes of the Commission asking Moss questions, a motion was made to approve the application as presented.  It was quickly seconded and unanimously carried.

The application must now be brought back to the County Commission for approval. Viehmann said she will present it the morning of Thurs., Oct. 6, the next time the Commission is scheduled to meet.

MontgomeryAndMe.com plans to be at the County Commission chambers when Viehmann reports on the Oct. 3 meeting.

Moss told MontgomeryAndMe.com, "I'm confident after Planning and Zoning saw the new layout of the drag strip and quickly approved it, the County Commission will also because we are no longer a hindrance to the adjoining landowners or the access road with the easement, and we're excited about breaking ground as soon as the corn gets out of the field."

Moss also said that the corn appears as if it may need a few more weeks before being ready to harvest.

Also briefly discussed during the P&Z meeting was Schrader’s suggestion that the Commission prepare a Finding of Fact and Conclusion of Law after each public hearing.