BY TODD ADAMS
The Custer County Commissioners May 25 gave conditional approval to a local car club to dig a pit for an annual demolition derby near the North Custer Rodeo
Grounds and the Challis Airport, but tabled a furniture request by the county prosecutor’s office.
The commissioners told Cody and Jim LaRoy that they liked the demo derby idea and would approve it under the condition that County Agent Jim Hawkins notify an adjacent landowner and make sure the Federal Aviation Administration has no regulations against cars smashing into each other near an airport.
A large contingent of members of the Challis Classy Chassis car club had asked the Custer County Fair Board on May 10 for permission to stage a demo derby once a year on county land between the rodeo arena and the airport. Fair board members said they liked the idea, as long as it didn’t interfere with rodeos and horse shows.
Hawkins said at the fair board meeting that demo derbies had been staged in the rodeo arena in the past without problems. He told the fair board and the commissioners that when people cleaned the arena up after derbies, their metal detectors found more belt buckles and horseshoes buried in the sand than loose car parts.
Cody LaRoy told the fair board that he doesn’t want to use the arena ‹ rather, he wants to dig a pit with a raised berm for added spectator safety. A chain-link fence would keep demo derby fans away from the dangerous parts of the crashin’ action, he said. LaRoy said he’s wanted to stage a demo derby in Challis for a long time and added safety regulations are a lot stricter these days. Drivers are required to remove auto glass and other parts that might fly loose upon impact. He gave the fair board a long list of safety regulations adopted by other demo derbies and showed fair board members a drawing of a demo derby pit surrounded by an oval car racetrack.
After fair board members expressed concern about ongoing noise from auto races, LaRoy said the track was just an idea and is no longer part of the car club’s proposal. There wouldn’t be noise from a racetrack all summer, he said just noise from one demo derby in August each year.
Hawkins told the commissioners that the fair board’s recommendation is to approve the demo derby.
Commissioner Cliff Hansen said nearby landowners Bill and June James should be notified as a matter of common courtesy.
Commissioner Wayne Butts said FFA regulations should be looked into. He said the county needs to be sure the demo derby site is a good one and added he’d hate to see a lot of work go into the pit, only to have to move it.
Hansen said he thought the general location was a good one.
Speaking as a member of the car club, Jim Sugden said dust from the cars would be suppressed.
Butts said he remembered demo derbies in the early 1980s raising $10,000. There were some conflicts between horse people and demo derby drivers back then, but Butts’ opinion was that people have matured and will get along for something to benefit the community’s economy.
LaRoy said the car club would like to stage the event the last weekend in August. Drivers need advance notice so they can get their cars ready, he said, so when will they know for sure that the commissioners will give the demo derby the checkered flag?
Hansen said the commissioners would decide after Hawkins notifies the Jameses and checks the FFA regs.
“This board will approve it pending that,” Butts said.
Furniture tabled
The commissioners tabled a request for $4,000 to $5,000 worth of furniture for the prosecutor’s office. Commissioners Hansen and Butts said they wanted to discuss it with Chairman Lin Hintze at a workshop in Mackay later that day.
Since this is an unforeseen expense, the county didn’t budget for it last year. The county begins budgeting for next year in June. The county is now dipping into its cash carryover to operate, Hansen said. After discussion the commissioners said they would consider the request and have Clerk Ethel Peck look for money somewhere in the budget.
Shawn Glen, acting prosecuting attorney, told commissioners Hansen and Butts that she needs new furniture and a laptop computer to run a professional office. Just as a rancher needs tools of the trade such as tractors, a prosecutor needs good furniture and office equipment, she said.
The commissioners said that traditionally, the county prosecutor has provided his or her own furniture and worked a private practice on the side. The furniture in the office now belongs to former Prosecutor Jim Smirch, who resigned in March.
Attorney Curt Thomsen pointed out that new furniture was written into the contract the commissioners had signed with his law firm, which contracted in April with the county to provide civil and criminal legal services after Smirch resigned. The $37,620 contract runs through March 31, 2014.
Thomsen and Glenn said their workload is growing and will grow more as the county fights the wildlife tax exemption and gets into planning and zoning issues.
“I can’t do the job you’re asking me to do,” without furniture, Glenn said heatedly. “I’m not working in a spot where I can do the job you want and that bothers me.”
Attempting to calm her, Butts said it was OK.
“No, it’s not OK!” Glenn replied. “You’ll get another attorney in here if I can’t get furniture I can work with!”
Glen has said she plans to stand for election as Custer County Prosecuting Attorney in 2015.
She must first take and pass the Idaho Bar exam in 2014. After that, the county can contract directly with Glenn to be prosecuting attorney until the 2015 general election.
Even if she doesn’t become the next prosecutor, the equipment is needed for the future, Glen said.
