City moves toward sprint boat track with annexation

The Aberdeen City Council moved toward annexing its property adjacent to the Bishop Athletic Complex on Wednesday, allowing the process to turn the area into a sprint-boat track to move forward.

The annexation, officials said at the meeting, only puts the city-owned property into the city’s jurisdiction, and does not address any aspects of developing the land, nor is the annexation at all connected to the track’s development, City Attroney Eric Nelson said.

The council, last Wednesday, viewed a presentation by sprint boat project supporters to explore the possibilities of bringing the venue to the area. Also in attendance were sprint boat drivers from as far away as British Columbia, as well as leaders from both of the sport’s national sanctioning organizations.

The oversight of the park would be spearheaded by the United AberGals, a local corporation that joined Ward 5 Councilmember Alan Richrod’s push to bring the track to the city. Council members plan to lease the property to the group, which would then organize the events.

United AberGals Treasurer Karen Rowe said the track would probably see about two races per year, but added that the venue could be used for other events.

The council members in attendance at last week’s meeting seemed largely optimistic about the prospect of a sprint boat track, which, supporters said, would bring thousands to the area for an entire weekend to see a race.

Though the city’s annexation of the land and discussion of a sprint boat park’s development on that land have both occurred in a week’s time, Nelson said the two aren’t related.

“The timing makes it look like the two are connected but they really aren’t,” Nelson said. “This is something we’ve talked about doing for a long time and it’s just time to get it done.”

Either way, Nelson added that the annexation would need to happen before any permitting on the track could move forward.

The annexation’s adoption had some project supporters pleased about getting one step closer to having the venue.

“Any forward progress is good forward progress,” Rowe said.

Approving the annexation requires the council to pass two more readings of the proposed ordinance. The next, on April 22, will also include a public hearing.

Kyle Mittan, 360-537-3932, kmittan@thedailyworld.com. Twitter: @KyleMittan