Joe Drennan
Staff Writer

Despite the hopes of the Columbus Concerned Citizens, a Ramsey County Circuit Court judge last week did not bar the Minnesota Racing Commission from reopening the hearing for a class A and class B license for the North Metro Harness Initiativeís proposed harness racing track/card club in Columbus Township, allowing the commission to hold its meeting to discuss NMHIís application last Thursday.

Judge M. Michael Monahan on Dec. 29 criticized the racing commissionís actions, but did not stop them from meeting Thursday, Dec. 30. Monahan encouraged the commission to open the record to give members of the public a chance to voice their concerns as well.

But Monahan took no action regarding the CCCís complaint the racing commission violated Open Meeting laws. He told the CCC they should take their complaint to the appellate courts.

ìI still think we have a fairly good chance at succeeding in a court case,î CCC representative Don Steinke said.

NMHI president Jim Druck was pleased with Judge Monahanís ruling, saying the ruling was appropriate and that there was no basis to stop Thursdayís meeting because the racing commission followed the rules and they did nothing wrong.

On Thursday over 100 people gathered at the Maple Grove Government Center for the racing commissionís meeting that lasted almost six and a half hours. While the meeting covered plenty of time on the clock, the commission stated early the communication they had since the original vote of denial of the licenses up to Wednesdayís meeting.

The commission decided not to take a vote, but they agreed to reopen the record until 5 p.m. Jan. 19 to allow members of the public and other organizations for and against NMHIís proposed harness racing track/card club to comment.

When the meeting started commission lawyer Joe Newton advised the members to state for the record their reasons for reopening the record and any correspondence they had since their decision to rescind their original denial in October.

Each member of the commission went down the line, but it was commissioner Bob McNamara who said it was the correspondence between NMHI and the Minnesota Horsemanís Benevolent and Protection Association that made him reconsider his vote for denial.

The correspondence prompted him to motion the commission to rescind their vote and take another look at the application.

nmhi-hbpa deal

NMHI and the HBPA have been working together to work out a deal that would ensure that the horsemen at Canterbury Park would not only not be affected by simulcasting in Columbus Township, but that they would benefit.

ìWhat they (the HBPA) have realized is that we will be good for them and that their market will benefit from us,î Druck said.

Not all is perfect yet, but the two sides are coming closer to an agreement.

ìWeíve been working hard at getting an agreement on this thing,î HBPA president Tom Metzen said. ìWeíve met on numerous occasions and weíre doing it again this week. They (NMHI) have come up with a few ideas as have we. Itís got to get resolved if they want to have simulcasting.î

Track support

With the CCC being very vocal, a number of track supporters were at the meeting.

ìThe vast support of the community was articulated by community leaders and citizens,î Druck said. ìThe manner in which the so called concerned citizens have gathered their support was based upon erroneous information and theyíre a small portion of the community.î

NMHI claims the CCC used misleading information when they gathered more than 600 names on a petition opposing the race track. At least one resident felt the same and felt compelled to write a letter to the township claiming they werenít ìgiven all of the true factsî and now that they have those facts they support the track.

Despite the accusations of giving out misleading information regarding the track and errors in their petition against the race track, the CCC still feels they represent the majority of the township.

ìWe know they (supporters) were out there,î Steinke said. ìThat was no surprise to us, but our contingent has been that there are many more people that oppose it than support it.î

More concerns

Druck and the NMHI paid for a charter bus for people to ride from Columbus Township to Maple Grove for last Thursdayís meeting.

ìIt was a long way to Maple Grove and it was a holiday with the threat of bad weather so we offered a bus for anyone to ride,î Druck said.

Not everyone feels the bus was provided for anyone who wanted to attend the meeting though.

ìWe knew nothing about the bus and we were not given the opportunity to ride the bus,î Steinke said.

Itís unclear when a final decision could be made, but all sides involved are certain there will be more legal action before all is said and done.

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