BRUTUS - County music star Tracy Lawrence will perform next month in Cayuga County.
In a 3-1 vote, the Brutus Town Board waived a local law that would have prevented the concert from taking place July 10 at the Cayuga County fairgrounds.
The board denied a public assembly permit earlier this month to concert organizers World Racing Group because the company failed to apply early enough.
But a special meeting was held Monday to reconsider the application and the board reversed the initial decision after hearing attorney Andrew Fusco speak on behalf of World Racing Group.
Fusco said he and company representatives have been in touch with all the necessary emergency agencies, including the county sheriff's office, state police and county emergency management office. None of those offices objected to the concert, he said.
“Nobody has espoused a problem with this particular show,” Fusco said. “You're not going to be catching anyone by surprise.”
The concert will feature Lawrence and two opening acts and organizers expect between 3,000 and 5,000 people to attend. World Racing Group Director of Operations Josh Wells filed an initial application for the event June 4. Local law dictates that event organizers must apply for a permit at least 90 days before the event.
Wells then turned in an almost-complete application during a June 8 town board meeting. He said at the time that the fairgrounds' former property manager had spoken with town officials in April and May about a concert, but did not work out the details.
Wells since filed a certificate of insurance, which covers Weedsport, Brutus and Cayuga County in the case of an incident.
Though the concert's main bureaucratic road block has been the permit issues, town officials have long expressed concerns over traffic and security problems associated with a different concert that used to take place at the fairgrounds.
The K-Rockathon was held annually through last year, but has moved to the state fairgrounds for this year's event on Aug. 8. Every year, the rock concert features several bands and would attract thousands of music fans to the county fairgrounds.
Fusco addressed the concern over K-Rockathon, noting the expected crowd looks to be much smaller. The crowd will also likely consist of older, more responsible attendees, he said.
“This is not going to draw a drug crowd or a young crowd,” Fusco said.
Some of the town board questioned why organizers were advertising for the Tracy Lawrence event before the town was notified of the plans. Wells said after the meeting that was a mistake, should not have happened and will hopefully not happen again.
“We didn't have a couple of our t's crossed and a couple of our i's dotted,” Wells said.
Town Councilor Tom Flynn voted against issuing the permit, while Jeff Hinman, Robert Ward and David Miller all voted to approve it.
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net.
The board denied a public assembly permit earlier this month to concert organizers World Racing Group because the company failed to apply early enough.
But a special meeting was held Monday to reconsider the application and the board reversed the initial decision after hearing attorney Andrew Fusco speak on behalf of World Racing Group.
Fusco said he and company representatives have been in touch with all the necessary emergency agencies, including the county sheriff's office, state police and county emergency management office. None of those offices objected to the concert, he said.
“Nobody has espoused a problem with this particular show,” Fusco said. “You're not going to be catching anyone by surprise.”
The concert will feature Lawrence and two opening acts and organizers expect between 3,000 and 5,000 people to attend. World Racing Group Director of Operations Josh Wells filed an initial application for the event June 4. Local law dictates that event organizers must apply for a permit at least 90 days before the event.
Wells then turned in an almost-complete application during a June 8 town board meeting. He said at the time that the fairgrounds' former property manager had spoken with town officials in April and May about a concert, but did not work out the details.
Wells since filed a certificate of insurance, which covers Weedsport, Brutus and Cayuga County in the case of an incident.
Though the concert's main bureaucratic road block has been the permit issues, town officials have long expressed concerns over traffic and security problems associated with a different concert that used to take place at the fairgrounds.
The K-Rockathon was held annually through last year, but has moved to the state fairgrounds for this year's event on Aug. 8. Every year, the rock concert features several bands and would attract thousands of music fans to the county fairgrounds.
Fusco addressed the concern over K-Rockathon, noting the expected crowd looks to be much smaller. The crowd will also likely consist of older, more responsible attendees, he said.
“This is not going to draw a drug crowd or a young crowd,” Fusco said.
Some of the town board questioned why organizers were advertising for the Tracy Lawrence event before the town was notified of the plans. Wells said after the meeting that was a mistake, should not have happened and will hopefully not happen again.
“We didn't have a couple of our t's crossed and a couple of our i's dotted,” Wells said.
Town Councilor Tom Flynn voted against issuing the permit, while Jeff Hinman, Robert Ward and David Miller all voted to approve it.
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net.
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guitardude62 wrote on Jun 23, 2009 4:31 PM:
others in a more positive manner and making the most from the resorces they have. Although on a much smaller scale, it stinks of the fairly recent fight in Sennett between the Bonca's Rest. and Dave's-not-here-Sikora, and that is why we will have a Town Supervisor soon who cares about the Town, not driving businesses away and lining the pockets of lawyers. So, I say to you Mr.Cynical, cast off your anger and cynicism and do something positive about you complaints and opinions to work with everyone who lives and contibutes to your town and village, just as I'm sure they have for you at some point. "
Mr. Cynical wrote on Jun 23, 2009 11:29 AM:
BTW, I suspect that if a referendum was held, the druggies and drunks wanting to keep the fairgrounds open would be heavily outvoted by those of us who are tired of never-ending problems at that location.
Rt. 31 does have its share of problems, but they are magnified whenever there is an event at the fairgrounds. "
guitardude62 wrote on Jun 23, 2009 8:48 AM:
Its always someone who can't seem to understand that you have a major venue and stand to make I'm sure much needed revenue for everyone involved. I'm so sick of reading about banning this concert or this event, or voting against them. Next thing the cars will be too loud, or they will kick up too much dust on RT.31. I've been to plenty of events there over the years, and I've spent my money on the Thruway, the local gas station, etc. Apparently some people's money is greener than others. "