HURRICANE – First on the agenda at the Hurricane City Council meeting Thursday night was a discussion about two running events whose mastermind said would do an excellent job of showing off the town in the future.
Chris Mathisen, of Red Dog Events, promoter of both the Hurricane Mud Run and Sand Hollow Marathon, asked for more city support for the two events and for the city to consider installing a bike path on the south side of state Highway 9 from its intersection with Sand Hollow Road to its intersection with 2600 West.
The path, Mathisen said, would be a boon for the community because biking and running on the road is dangerous, specifically citing the portion of the road where he would like the proposed path to be, a segment of the Sand Hollow Marathon’s route. Such a trail, Mathisen said, would suit the city like “nothing else” and also make for a first-class triathlon route. Mathisen wants to get the city’s backing because without it, there will be no support from the Utah Department of Transportation, he said.
Outgoing Mayor Tom Hirschi’s initial response to Mathisen’s proposal was simple: It comes down to money – and a lot of it. Later Hirschi expressed concern over the proposed bike path, explaining that even though the west side of state Highway 18, north of St. George, has a bike path, bicyclists still use the road. If a bike path is installed, Hirschi said, it will not happen quickly, “but we can start looking at it.”
Additionally, Mathisen urged the city to sponsor emergency medical technicians and police for the events with the caveat that the races can “get by” without the support but it would be helpful. In the initial discussion about support for the marathon and mud run, Hirschi said he knows of two land owners adjacent to the site of the mud run (just over 2 miles west of the airport on 3000 South) who were not happy after the race and said they did not want the race to continue in that location; to which Mathison said that his company received the landowner’s approval before the event and that most of the run is on water district land.
Hirschi also cited an email he received saying that the National Guard, a chief sponsor of the mud run, did not get what it was promised out of the event; to which Mathisen said he had received word from the National Guard the day of the meeting that it was still on board for next year.
Hirschi also expressed concern that some of the runners participating in the events were staying in hotels in St. George instead of Hurricane, which wouldn’t help the city. Hirschi said he would like Hurricane motel rooms to be filled; Mathisen said with assurance that event-goers look to Hurricane first for accommodations.
Ultimately, Hirschi said the city has no trouble donating police and EMT time to the two events. He said he attended the mud run because three of his children participated and that “it’s a ball.”
In other business, the City Council approved two new 19-lot subdivisions located on Flora Tech Road/3400 West at approximately 2250 West near Dixie Springs. One of the subdivisions will include a 3.5-acre lot donated for the building of a meetinghouse for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Before discussing any agenda items, Hirschi honored the Hurricane High School volleyball team for its recent state championship, giving every team member a certificate of excellence from the city. Hirschi praised the team members, saying the Tiger ladies beat Desert Hills when the Thunder thought they had a sure thing since Hurricane lost to Desert Hills three times during the regular season.
Related posts
- The Tigers … They’re Grrrreat! Hurricane captures 3A volleyball championship; STGNews photo gallery
- One last beach-party: Sand Hollow Mayhem returns to Southern Utah; STGNews photo gallery
- Hurricane Mud Run: 100s hit wet wet dirt, come out smiling; STGnews Videocast and Photo Gallery
- Perfect weather, dogged competitors make Kokopelli Tri memorable; STGnews Photo Gallery
- Angell Heights Estates in Hurricane threatened by heavy rainfall, flooding; STGnews Photo Gallery
- Hurricane celebrates heritage, joined by Gov. Herbert; STGnews Peach Days photo gallery
- Hurricane Valley Choir opens winter session rehearsals, search for singers
- Southern Utah’s trucking industry on ‘Heavy-Duty’ regulations
- Utility scam targets Hurricane residents
- Who will head Hurricane in 2014? Meet the mayoral candidates
- Law enforcement use of Tasers, acceptable risk?
- Hurricane celebrates Pioneer Day with family 5K, parade; STGnews photo gallery
- George Washington Academy awarded Utah Charter School of the Year
- Pilot in plane crash local resident, retired Air Force officer
- Off the road, through a fence and into a house; hit-and-run
- Hurricane Mud Run: 100s hit wet wet dirt, come out smiling; STGnews Videocast and Photo Gallery
New from STGnews.com
St. George News App for Android®
St. George News App for iPhone®
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @STGnews
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2013, all rights reserved.
WOw can we get some support with SOCCER Fields!!!!!….Do the math people
!