Race car storage issue surfaces once again

The issue of storage of race cars has long been a topic of discussion in Onaway. Currently the ordinance does not allow people to store vehicles on the property if they cannot be driven legally down the road with an exception for race cars during the racing season, through Sept. 15. 

However, the exception requires that they be kept on a licensed trailer and prohibits them from being worked on outside of a closed garage. The ordinance has been in place for several years.

Jim Dubois, Tom Garms and Lonnie Lenox appeared before the Onaway City Commission Monday evening. They asked if the city would consider making changes to the ordinance that would allow residents to store and work on their race cars in their yards and driveways.

Dubois presented the commission with an on-line petition signed by those who believe changes should be made. Dubois owns Onaway Motor Speedway and his position is that his business brings a lot of people into town and the ordinance hurts his business. One of his suggestions was to have owners place an off road vehicle (ORV) sticker on their bump-and-run cars. Dubois felt that with the ORV sticker they would no longer be in violation since the storage of ORV’s is allowed in yards year round.

City attorney Mike Vogler told the commission he did not believe that race cars could be considered ORV’s as Dubois had suggested. City manager Joe Hefele was also in disagreement on Dubois’ interpretation.

After hearing the men discuss the issue commissioner Bernie Schmeltzer and mayor Gary Wregglesworth suggested a meeting before the next racing season with Dubois to discuss the issue.

IN OTHER CITY COMMISSION NEWS:

• Hefele updated the commission on the status of two tax-foreclosed properties under consideration for tea

rdown. The cost to demolish the structures without involving the Onaway Area Fire Department is approximately $10,000. If the OAFD is involved the cost could be half of that unless asbestos is found during the required inspection. 

• The commission discussed a fence to be placed around the new stair tower at the courthouse. McDade Fence had gotten measurements and dropped off some literature regarding the fence. Hefele will be providing the commission with cost estimates and will try to get color samples at the next meeting on Oct. 3.

• Onaway Courthouse will appear on an up-to-date caricature map being produced by the Alpena News. The city’s cost is $150 and the city would receive 10 posters, one in a frame, of the map.