YOUNGSTOWN Mahoning officials mull racetrack role

County commissioners are weighing their options.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Mahoning County officials must decide soon whether they want to be financial partners in a plan to build an indoor auto racetrack in Trumbull County.
County commissioners and business leaders were to meet today with Bob Brant, president of Brant Motorsports, the Morgantown, W.Va., company interested in building the $300 million track near the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport.
Commissioner Ed Reese said he's met with Brant several times in the past year, but commissioners David Ludt and Vicki Allen Sherlock have not had a chance to talk with him.
"I think it's time for us all to sit down and see what [Brant] has to say," Reese said. "We need to see if there is any point in going forward with this project."
Mahoning and Trumbull county commissioners each contributed $30,000 last year for a consultant to do a preliminary study on the economic impact an indoor racetrack would have on the local economy.
The report, released in September 2002, said a race facility would pump some $100 million a year into the local economy, as well as another $100 million during construction.
Options
Reese said commissioners must now decide whether to go ahead with a second, more detailed study, or walk away from the project. The cost would be about double the cost of the first phase. Reese favors going ahead, but doesn't know how the county can do so under its current financial situation.
"I think I'm going to need a little more convincing," Sherlock said.
She likes the idea of building an indoor racetrack here, but isn't sold on using public money to do it. Taxpayer dollars should be used only for projects that will mean economic growth for the entire area, not just one venture, she said.
"I'm going to need to hear more about this before I'm convinced that it's something commissioners should participate in with taxpayer dollars," Sherlock said.
Ludt said he'll keep an open mind, but won't vote to fund a flimsy project.
"It's got to be solid," Ludt said. "It can't be just rhetoric. It has to be something with substance before I'll favor getting involved."
Lawrence Richards, president of the Youngstown/Mahoning County Convention & amp; Visitors Bureau, said he expects the bureau to be asked to help fund the second phase of the study. He was to attend today's meeting and hear the presentation.
bjackson@vindy.com