McDonald County Commission to seek legal review of proposed racing ordinance

The McDonald County Commission reviewed options for imposing a Racing Ordinance in McDonald County on Sept. 23 and agreed to seek legal wording from the county's counsel before pursuing formal adoption. The review included input from Luap McKeever and Sheriff Evenson.

Why it matters: The commission's decision to route the ordinance language to County Counsel means no regulatory change was enacted at the Sept. 23 meeting; further legal drafting or clarification will be required before the commission can vote on any ordinance.

At the meeting, members of the commission discussed the scope of a potential Racing Ordinance and heard from participants who raised enforcement and public-safety considerations. After those discussions, the commission directed that County Counsel Travis Elliott prepare or review the legal wording. The minutes do not record a formal motion, vote tally, or specific ordinance text.

There was no formal action recorded to adopt an ordinance that day. The commission's next steps, as stated in the minutes, are to have counsel draft or advise on the ordinance wording so the commission can consider a formal proposal at a future meeting.

The commission continued with other county business after the discussion and adjourned, scheduling reconvening for Sept. 25, 2024.