Hydroplane Races Stir A Wave Of Opposition Cda City Council Cancels Hearing On Plans To Revive Racing

Hydroplane opponents say they won’t quit fighting the return of the jet-engine boats if the City Council approves the racing.

“I’m hoping the council will do what I perceive to be the right thing - say goodbye to hydro,” said Art Manley of the Kootenai Environmental Alliance. “I have a strong feeling that if it doesn’t go the way I want it to, … there would be some other action.”

Manley wouldn’t elaborate.

The council, meanwhile, decided to skip Monday night’s committee hearing on the races.

The Diamond Cup Association, a spinoff of a Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce committee, was to have given a presentation on its plan for putting the Lake City on the professional hydro-racing circuit.

Councilman Ron Edinger, chairman of the General Services Committee, suggested that it would be more efficient to have one presentation during a special City Council meeting Jan. 29 instead of one Monday and another at the special meeting, Mayor Al Hassell said.

The mayor and council are receiving many telephone calls about hydroplane racing, Hassell said. Most are opposed to the races or are “concerned if this is appropriate or not,” Hassell said.

The council will hear from both sides at the Jan. 29 meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. at City Hall. A large crowd is expected so people should limit their remarks to three minutes, the mayor said.

It is not yet clear whether the council will take action on the plan at that hearing, Hassell said.

The Diamond Cup Association needs city approval to use the Third Street boat docks, and to fence off Tubbs Hill, Independence Point and City Park and Beach in order to charge admission and set up beer gardens.

Promoters tout increased tourism traffic, exposure on CNN, and a supposed multimillion-dollar boost to the economy.

Opponents fear degradation to Tubbs Hill and that spectators will be unruly as they were in the 1960s, when the races were held here.

Finally, they point to a 1985 advisory vote, in which local residents rejected the return of hydroplane racing by 3 to 1.

, DataTimes