Letter to the Editor: Midwest Regional Racing Center to Impact Northfield

To the editor:

Don't depend on "shared lanes" to protect drivers and bicyclists when Motokazieland Recreational Park and Campgrounds comes to 35W at Cty 9 next summer. The ten-track dirt bike racing will go on year-round with snowmobile racing in winter, if Lee Theis has his way when comp plan and ordinances are updated in coming months. Our northern commissioners asked for the update now, rather than later. No such luck. That idea was voted down on Jan. 22, 2013. New commissioner from Faribault, Dave Miller, was the swing vote.

This 130-acre project will be the first in the Midwest on this scale. Many people think this will be like the one Theis ran at Elko. Wrong--this is big time. Defeat of Jesse James Days is here and gone in a week's time. What about all year long?  Bicyclists beware. Road rage incidents on Hwy 3 between Faribault and Northfield are common. Add Motokazieland to that and what do you get? Bedlam. 

Stephanie Henriksen