A request to locate a go-cart track at the Atlanta Dragway was approved in a 4-1 vote of the Banks County Board of Commissioners Tuesday night.
The hours of operation requested by the developer were not approved though. The closing time on Fridays and Saturdays will be 9 p.m. instead of 10 p.m. and no Sunday hours will be allowed. The owner had asked to be able to open the business from 1 to 6 p.m. on Sundays.
Voting in favor of the request from Dan Moore for a conditional use permit to operate the business were BOC chairman Milton Dalton and commissioners Rickey Cain, Joe Barefoot and Ernest Rogers. Commissioner Charles Turk voted against the request. Turk said he wanted the hours to be more restrictive.
“I don’t mind a go-cart track coming in but I would like to see the hours of operation tightened some,” he said.
Moore said: “The hours are based on the operation hours now of the drag strip on Friday and Saturday nights. I think right now there are at least nine Sundays that the drag strip is open from 8 a.m. to 10 or 11 p.m. I’m only asking what any other business in banks county is doing now, being open on Sundays.”
More than 60 people attended the BOC meeting Tuesday night with several people who attend church near the dragway speaking in opposition to the plans. Twenty to 30 people who attend church near the dragway stood in opposition to the plans and asked that the business not be allowed to open on Sundays.
County residents who support the go-cart plans also attended the meeting with approximately 20 standing in support of the request.
Moore presented the plans and said he will lease nine acres from the National Hot Road Association to operate the go-cart track at the dragway. It will be a 3,900 feet length track and a building will be on the site to sell parts and accessories, as well as doing repairs.
The business will be open Friday and Saturday for individual go-cart rides, as well as hosting racing events. Club racing events will be held one to two times each month and Pro Racing events will be held two to three times each year. These races will be held in conjunction with event at the dragway. On Mondays through Thursdays, the facility will be open for company outings and group team building races.
Moore said there will be five to 20 people hired, with some being part-time and seasonal help.
Moore added that the developers have $500,000 to $700,000 in improvements planned at the site. He anticipates $1 million in yearly sales and added this would generate sales tax revenue for the county.
Tis better for a fool to keep his mouth shut and keep others guessing than open his mouth and remove all doubt.
Where was the photo and separate story? I never saw it in your paper! Kids work hard and need to be recognized to instead of being overlooked. I understand they were at your meeting also. Not one bit of information was given about this other than, see separate story and photo, which was not published!!!!