DISCUSSION — Jefferson County Commissioner Tony Morelli discusses the situation Friendship Park board’s decision on the Freebird Raceway lease. -- Linda Harris

STEUBENVILLE — Freebird Raceway at Friendship Park is just weeks away from ceasing operations permanently.

The all-volunteer Friendship Park board voted earlier this week not to renew the drag strip’s lease, despite an outpouring of support from the racing community and local business owners, and at Thursday’s meeting, the Jefferson County commissioners told the raceway’s supporters they couldn’t overrule the park board even if they wanted to.

Commissioner Eric Timmons said the Friendship Park District was created in 1973 in accordance with state statute, and when they did the the county commissioners essentially ceded decision-making authority to the park board.

“From what I understand, the park board’s decision is final and that’s basically it,” Timmons told the group. “But I would advise you to get with (the assistant prosecutor) and see if, maybe, there is something (that can be done.)”

The Friendship Park board is seeking Abandoned Mine Lands Economic Revitalization grant funds to develop as many as 30 camp sites on part of the 44-acre raceway parcel. Revenue generated by campsite rentals would be used to pay for additional upgrades, like restrooms, playgrounds and shower facilities.

“They want to put the campgrounds where the drag strip is,” raceway spokeswoman Robin Heald said. “Instead of using the campgrounds they have and all the available acreage there, they want to use our 44 acres.”

Commissioner Tony Morelli said that 44-acre parcel “is the best 44 acres the county owns.”

“I’ve been saying it since I’ve been in office — it’s the best property (we have) if the county wanted to do something,” he said.

Heald said they’d suggested the park board consider “a large plat, a flat block that sits up on the hill across from the drag strip that has already been leveled out and has electric service available and an access road, but board members said “the drag strip was already flat and easier to develop, that’s why they want to use it.”

While not unsympathetic, Morelli pointed out it’s a landlord’s prerogative to not renew a lease.

“We know they have the right to do it, we’re just asking (you) to speak to them and ask them to reconsider,” Heald said. “I’m just asking, can they look at sites other than just the drag strip area? I feel like there’s so much other acreage available and it would make more sense to put (the new campgrounds) where they have existing campgrounds with more acreage than the drag strip.”

A Smithfield business owner added his voice to the discussion, telling commissioners, “I hate to see it go because we really need it. I mean, it does bring a lot of people together.”

A man who attends “five or six” events at the raceway every year said he typically spends in the neighborhood of $300 each time he comes.

Timmons, though, said he “didn’t like the e-mails” and personal attacks posted on social media after the meeting, saying, “I don’t like that the park board is getting attacked for doing (its) job.” Timmons also pointed out that during the park board’s meeting raceway Manager Ed Glover had said the county “had never done anything for him.”

“Look it up — they leased 40 acres of land for $5,400 a year, that’s $450 a month,” Timmons said. “Where are you going to find, as a business, a lease (like that)?”

Commissioner Jake Kleineke said he supports the drag strip and had said as much to park Board Chair Roger Hilty. He said he’d also like to see a more concrete plan from the park board–the engineering or drawings or their recreation plan.

“In my eyes, maybe in the eyes of some of the other commissioners, I’m not sure campgrounds are what we want to see as far as recreation for the citizens of Jefferson County,” Kleineke said. “People need to understand they have a business to run, too. We scratch every week to overcome financial shortcomings. You look at their situation, water follows the easiest path. They’re looking at that as the easiest path to do something like that. I don’t particularly agree with that. To me, (there hasn’t been) enough homework. It’s about hope.”

Morelli, meanwhile, said they’d have a hard time finding volunteers as committed as the park board.

“When I first ran for office, I said I wanted more recreation for our youth. Since then, and it’s because of me, we’ve gotten kayak docks, boat docks, restrooms fixed and a fishing pier coming.”

He said it’s obvious how important the raceway is to Glover and the racing community, “and if Commissioner Kleineke wats to go and talk with the board, (fine.) But I’m not going to overrule them, I don’t think we can, anyhow.”

In other matters, Kleineke reported commissioners are meeting with two potential tenants for the spec building that’s in the works at the Jefferson County Industrial park.

Commissioners also:

• Designated the Jefferson County Land Bank as the lead entity for all applications for funding through the state’s Building Demolition and Site Revitalization Program. Lawmakers allocated $40 million — $20 million a year in fiscal years 2026 and 2027. Land bank Chair Brian Scarpone said they were awarded nearly $965,000 from the 2022-2023 program, and another $500,000 for fiscal year 2024-2025 and administered more than $3.4 million through the Neighborhood Initiative Program from 2014-2019. To date it has demolished 291 blighted and dilapidated structures throughout Jefferson County.

• Approved a memorandum of understanding designating the Jefferson County Port Authority as their representative to Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Brownfields Coalition.

• Agreed to purchase a $2,100 switch so computers used by the county prosecutors and support staff can be moved to their new office, located on Third Street across from the courthouse. The computers are still tied into the Jefferson County Justice Center system and can’t be installed in the new office until the switch is in place.

• Accepted the resignation of Samuel Allison as the county’s assistant facilities supervisor.