A sour note in concert plans featuring country music star Tracy Lawrence might be sounded by a Cayuga County town's deadlines.

The Brutus Town Board has denied the World Racing Group's application for a public assembly permit to hold a concert on July 10 at the Cayuga County Fairgrounds, mainly because it wasn't filed on time. The company is looking to put on a concert this year after the end of the multi-year run at the fairgrounds of the annual K-Rockathon concert.

The permit issue will be revisited at a special meeting at 6 p.m. Monday at Brutus Town Hall, but the controversial history of the K-Rockathon, with its considerable traffic problems and security challenges, is also weighing on the minds of town officials.

The initial application, filed with the town clerk on June 4, had no exhibits and was not received at least 90 days before the planned event, violating local law requirements for such permits.

Josh Wells, director of operations for World Racing Group, had an almost-complete application at the June 8 town board meeting. He explained that change in management personnel at his company had occurred when Jack Deery, general manager at the fairgrounds property, left in April. Deery had spoken with the town clerk in April about a concert, but not in detail. Deery and Wells visited the town offices during the second week of May to briefly discuss a concert, but again without details.

A required certificate of insurance was also outstanding, which Wells said he would provide as soon as possible.

Wells has agreed to limit the number of tickets to 3,000 if that was required. The concert would be held rain or shine, and no fireworks would be featured.

Lawrence has posted a long list of top 10 Billboard country hits during his career. The fairgrounds concert is listed on his Web site as part of his nationwide tour in support of a new album.

Brutus town attorney Dale Yates expressed concern about the violation of the local law and insurance coverage, but he indicated that there was a possibility that these problems could be resolved. While Yates has not attended any of the recent meetings, he said he believed that in the past similar issues had been waived.

“I'm encouraging the town to say that certain limits of the town law have to be followed,” Yates said, although he indicated that the time limits might be adjusted if they were found not to fit the situation.

“Sometimes you have to react in a short time to events,” he said, pointing to the late confirmation of Sarah Palin's visit to Auburn earlier this month and the last-minute changes organizers of that event had to make.

Several board members were also concerned that various agencies had not been notified about the concert until June 8.

“We're going to listen to everybody who comes (to the June 22 meeting),” Yates said.

He indicated that the Department of Transportation has given its approval regarding the impact of the proposed concert on the New York State Thruway, with sections of the area between exits 39 and 40 now under construction.

Yates cautioned that the health and police agencies had not yet weighed in. Last year, three or four meetings were held before the K-Rockathon with these agencies to coordinate all aspects of security.

Town board member David Miller said that if World Racing proceeds with the concert without the property permit, fines may be assessed and the town can get a court injunction to make sure it doesn't happen.

The K-Rockathon, an annual rock concert featuring multiple bands performing over the course of a day, is taking place this year on Aug. 8 at the New York State Fairgrounds.

Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net