By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter
A barrel racing arena popular with competitors and spectators but unpopular with some of its neighbors that complain of noise and light pollution was given a permit Tuesday to continue operating with a set of conditions.
Chelsea McCormick and Larry (Bo) Tucker, Jr., the arena operators, said they have already made changes to their operation to reduce sound and lighting impacts and they will comply with the Levy County’s Commission’s permit.
Commission Chairman John Meeks warned that the commission could revoke the permit if the county continues to receive complaints and finds McCormick isn’t complying with all the conditions in the special exception permit.
McCormick said she runs a family operation and loves to work with kids and their parents and she has no intention of violating any of the conditions set by the commission.
Among other things, she said the arena lighting will be shielded to focus light on the competition and not bother neighbors, and the entrance and most of the operations will be moved farther away from neighbors to reduce noise.
The board gave McCormick permission to stage 24-barrel racing competitions annually that last no longer than one day each. Some competitions have lasted longer in the past.
Barrel racing must stop by 10 p.m. on the day of the competition and competitors and visitors must leave the property by 11 p.m.
She must comply with the county’s noise ordinance. The county uses decibel meters to gauge the loudness of noise by taking readings at the location of the person lodging the complaint.
The arena is located on agriculturally zoned property that can also be used for residences, but an exception to the zoning laws was needed to operate an outdoor commercial recreation activity,
The arena is located southwest of Williston off SW 200th Ave. close to U.S. 41 and near the Marion County line.
McCormick said she collects entry fees from barrel racers but no admission fee from spectators. The entry fees pay for 75 percent of the ribbons, trophies, and awards.
“I don’t make any money off this. I wish I did. I wish I could say I’m making a ton of money but I’m not,” she told commissioners. “I do this because I love to do this. I don’t make money.”
One neighbor complained of drinking on the property. McCormick said drinking isn’t allowed and her insurance forbids the consumption of alcohol on the property but it’s difficult to police.
Neighbor Emily Hancock showed a video of a large pickup truck pulling horse trailers behind it on 200th Ave. She said the horse trailers tear up the road leaving it pitted and full of potholes.
The arena hasn’t operated since the county investigated noise complaints.
“We are fearful of when the events begin again. Trucks such as these will leave a very rutted and pitted road again,” she said.
She added that the “light pollution has been intolerable.” She showed a photograph of the arena lights from her backyard.
“There was a cow show and you could hear the announcer inside our bedroom,” she said. “Her (McCormick’s) response is that it would be over soon. It’s like living in the middle of a warehouse district.”
Ashley Stonestreet was supportive of McCormick. She said her family farms peanuts and watermelons and is accustomed to big trucks.
“If you barrel race, there aren’t a lot of places to go. I have a six-year-old and a two-year-old and we love coming to Chelsea’s,” Stonestreet said. “Nobody talks about the watermelon buses that go up and down that road and the tractors. Nobody talks about them. They talk about barrel racers.”
Stonestreet said McCormick takes good care of her property. She keeps the grass mowed and garbage cans are everywhere for the public to use.
“I would love to get my kids back together at Chelsea’s because it was great and practices are great for people who can’t make it on weekends,” she said.
Ron and Carolyn Skelton defended McCormick as a very conscientious person who tries to do things right.
Ron Skelton said they love Levy County because there are things to do in the country. Both of their daughters, now in their early 30s now, are barrel racers.
“We’re in the country. We need to let country things happen,” Skelton said. “This is the country. We have horses, we want to see who is best.”
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Board of County Commission Regular Meeting October 5, 2021; Posted October 6, 2021
