FELLSMERE — Mud-bogging has officially been approved for the MESA Park complex – at least, on a short-term basis. The Fellsmere City Council unanimously approved six weekends of mud-bogging between now and Jan. 1, 2012.
The limited number of weekends will help organizers Theresa Duke and Ron McMath better determine the public’s interest and participation before investing more into the mud-bog tracks.
More than 60 mud-bogging enthusiasts and supporters attended the Fellsmere City Council meeting Thursday evening to lend their support to the endeavor. So many showed up that some had to stand against the walls of the council chambers or sit in the aisle between the two banks of seats. Others, still, stood in the hallway outside the chambers to listen to the discussion.
“That went easy,” Duke said outside Fellsmere City Hall following the council’s unanimous support. “I was waiting for the fight.”
The Fellsmere City Council tacked on two extra weekends to Duke and McMath’s request – bringing mud-bogging to MESA Park six times, instead of the four originally requested.
“That’s still not a lot,” Councilwoman Sara Savage said of the number of events the couple planned to hold to gauge interest.
“We’ll take six,” Duke said.
The couple, who own and operate Bull Dog Auto Sales just outside MESA Park, plan to hold the first mud-bogging event this weekend, with gates opening at 9 a.m.
City Manager Jason Nunemaker told the council that staff recommended approving a conditional use permit to allow for the mud-bogging, in part, due to Duke and McMath’s work to improve the site.
“I think it’s a testament to their commitment,” he said of the amount of investment that’s already gone into MESA Park.
Nunemaker had allowed the pair to host mud-bogging on a couple temporary occasions as a test to determine noise levels and get public feedback.
Councilman Joel Tyson, who lives near the park, told his fellow council members that on the few occasions mud-bogging had been allowed to go on he hardly heard anything from the site.
“We tried to be as loud as we could so you could hear us,” McMath told the council.
Along with ATVs and trucks driving through the mud, dirt bikes, too, were allowed on the tracks.
Of those in the crowd who came out to hear the discussion, none voiced objections to bringing mud-bogging back to the park.
“It’s a sport second to none,” said Fellsmere Feed Supply owner Dwayne Sprenger, adding that he grew up with motocross, as have his sons. “It keeps them out of trouble. The town definitely needs something.”
Former City Councilman Tom Hall threw his support behind mud-bogging as well, telling the council that it has an obligation to the city to not allow the park to remain an eyesore.
“There are all kinds of possibilities,” Hall said for MESA Park. “I’m going to support this 100 percent.”
Travis Hendricksen, of Travis Tire and Oil, told the Fellsmere City Council that the few mud-bogging events that have been held have already helped him attract more business.
“It’s good for all of us,” he said.
McMath said the plan is to run mud-bogging from 9 a.m. to dark on Saturdays and after 1 p.m. to dark on Sundays, out of deference for area churches.
The cost would be $5 for spectators, $10 for those wanting to play in the mud, he said.
