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Residents and officials press for clearer safety plan as Dead North Racing seeks frequent events
Summary
At a Pittsburg selectboard meeting ahead of the March 10 town meeting, residents and board members pressed for a coordinated safety and permitting plan after complaints about recurring Dead North Racing events, asking that the permitting agency provide on-site presence and that town public-safety officials be included in planning.
Residents and town officials on the Pittsburg selectboard debated whether recurring Dead North Racing events should be permitted to run every weekend and what safety protections the town should require. At the meeting, Chair (speaker 2) said state permitting should include on‑site agency presence: “If they're permitting a race, they should be up here,” the Chair said, arguing the permitting agency should help police event safety.
The discussion followed multiple public complaints that races, which organizers have suggested holding weekly or every other week, create noise, disrupt other community events and place added strain on local emergency services. Agency official (speaker 7) said the state captain had indicated a representative would attend and noted the town retains authority under state law to deny or condition events for safety reasons: “It’s within the town’s rights to deny,” the official said, urging coordination among law enforcement, fire and EMS.
Several residents urged a fuller convening of stakeholders after town meeting. One participant (speaker 8) asked who benefits from race proceeds and challenged whether a race director could remove community property (a Kiwanis ice feature), saying the removal created community tension and confusion about authority. Board members and staff agreed on the need for a follow‑up meeting that would include the race organizers, fish and game representatives, law enforcement and town emergency personnel to review permits, safety staffing and impacts on other events such as the Parade of Lights.
The selectboard did not adopt a formal policy at the meeting but tasked members to arrange a detailed post‑town‑meeting session to “brainstorm” logistics and safety planning. The board emphasized that any future permits should include clear responsibilities for policing, EMS coverage and waste/trail management and that the town would expect documentation from the permitting agency about its planned on‑site presence.
