DISCUSSION — Freebird Dragway at Friendship Park was among the items discussed by the Jefferson County commissioners during Thursday’s meeting. -- Linda Harris

STEUBENVILLE — Freebird Dragway owner Ed Glover and his supporters might have gone too far in their social media campaign to pressure county officials into extending the lease held by the business at Friendship Park.

At Thursday’s meeting, the Jefferson County commissioners made it clear that as far as they’re concerned, if the drag strip returns for the 2026 season it should be under new management.

“As far as the current owner, Ed Glover, at this point I really don’t want to do business with him,” Commissioner Eric Timmons said. “This is not the type of person Jefferson County should do business with — the comments he’s making about ‘the commissioners taking kickbacks’ — I can’t even figure out the rationale behind that.”

Timmons said Glover’s lease, which expired at the end of the year, gave him the use of a 44-acre parcel at Friendship Park for just $5,400 a year — that works out to $450 a month, which commissioners described as a “nice” deal for him.

“I think it’s easy to use a smear tactic when you don’t really have any professional skills or knowledge to negotiate,” Timmons said. “I’ve also seen comments (about) basically assaulting the park board members. You know, I’ll say it again — that does not help your case. There have been many times when I wanted to start working (on a solution), to talk about this professionally, then saw (more) personal attacks and allegations of kickbacks. It’s just ongoing.”

The controversy began months ago after the Friendship Park Board balked at renewing Freebird’s lease, instead announcing they were applying for Abandoned Mine Lands Economic Revitalization grant funds to develop up to 30 new campsites on the dragstrip’s leasehold campsites.

Glover expressed frustration over the situation when contacted Thursday afternoon.

“The park board and the commissioners have made it the way it is,” Glover said, adding that he had no control over things other people posted on social media.

The commissioners own the acreage used by the dragstrip. While the Friendship Park Board controls significant acreage, it falls under Clean Ohio control and can only be used in its natural state and for passive recreation.

Board members had said they’d use the revenue the new campsites generate to pay for additional upgrades, like restrooms, playgrounds and shower facilities.

Timmons, though, said in the newest postings, Freebird supporters “rushed to judgment” on social media, interpreting the park board’s efforts to clear garbage and debris left at the dragstrip as them “demo-ing the site.”

“It’s not true, as usual,” he said, clicking through a digital album displayed on a screen with roughly two dozen photos taken at the property before they cleaned it up. “All that was done was the garbage and trash (they left there) was cleaned up. They’ve got stuff laying around like that … I just want to give the other side of the story because we’re taking a lot of abuse. This is the real condition of the place.”

Commissioners Tony Morelli and Jake Kleineke made it clear they’re fed up as well.

“My stance is the same, I’m tired of talking about it, tired of getting grief and being accused of things by people who don’t even live in Jefferson County,” Morelli said. “That’s the part that fries me the most. When this first came up, I was willing to look at a one- or two-year lease (but) when they started chirping, I’m out.”

Morelli pointed out Friendship Park’s board “works out there, there’s no pay.”

“They’re getting abused out there on (social media),” he said. “I’m going to stand with the board as I have from the beginning: If the board is willing to look at it again, I’m willing to look at, it but that’s where I’m at.”

Kleineke said if drag strip supporters want to make a case for continuing the lease, “they should bring it to us and let’s talk about it. Don’t use social media to smear us and say things. Last night, I read that ‘Jake the Snake showed his true colors …’ You know, we’re just not going to put up with that. If they’re going to be professional we’re willing to look at it: We were talking just last week about maybe spending some money on the place and fixing it up and getting it to a point where people are going to lease it for its real, true value and run a nice operation — we’d be the gem of Ohio, the only county that owned a motor sport facility. But at this point in time, with the name calling and the accusations (about) kickbacks and what have you … I’ll talk to somebody when they have a real plan and they’re professional about it.”

Timmons said after conversations with Morelli and Kleineke as well as the Friendship Park Board, they are willing to look at bringing the drag strip back.

“But the request was, and still is, that we want to see an owner with a plan, somebody that will make the track better and make some improvements and carry good insurance–we know (racers) sign (releases) every time but … anybody can still sue anybody out there,” he said. “I would not even be opposed to giving somebody a longer lease — an owner is not going to want to put money into the track without a longer lease … If there’s going to be a future for the racetrack, I hope somebody comes forward with a plan. I heard a gentleman say at one of the meetings there are interested parties … please step up.”

Whoever it is, Morelli reiterated, “they’ll need a plan and some money.”