Newton – The Newton City Council gave developers the green light to proceed with construction of a $30 million motorpsorts complex after unanimously approving a resolution authorizing a development agreement between the city and The U.S. MotorSport Entertainment Corp. on April 16.

“I’m elated; it’s a great day for Newton,” said Mayor David Aldridge. “It’s the greatest opportunity I’ve seen for Newton in my lifetime and an opportunity to show people we can have a first-class facility. We’re grateful for the opportunities for Jasper County and the whole state.”

Paul Schlaack, chairman, president and CEO of The U.S. MotorSport Entertainment Corp., said his company would not build the track in Newton without unanimous consent from the city council. During the council meeting, he thanked Newton’s council members, city officials and citizens (2,576 of whom signed a petition in favor of the project that was presented to council members) for supporting the proposal and promised the facility will appeal to fans and drivers alike.

“This is the way the political system is supposed to work,” he said. “Is this not a grassroots effort of the community?”

City officials say the estimated costs to the city will be $9 million, including a $1.3 million economic grant for the purchase of a 226-acre tract near the town’s airport, and expenses for public improvements, roadways and sewers. In exchange for five years of tax abatement and a rebate, under the development agreement, developers will build a complex with a minimum assessed value of $30 million. Officials estimate the track will generate approximately $1 million annually in commercial property taxes.

The on-again, off-again project has endured rejection for funding from the Vision Iowa Board, rejection from some city and county elected officials, stiff resistance by citizens concerned about its finances and noise, and an identity crisis with would-be developers who couldn’t get the project on track before being rescued by Schlaack’s group. Those concerns were quelled by Wednesday’s vote.  Dan Stanbrough, executive vice president of development for U.S. MotorSport Entertainment and president and CEO of Stanbrough Cos., said he was glad to have the community’s full support.

“We’re very enthused that the city of Newton unanimously supported this,” he said. “We were hopeful they were excited about it.”

Officials say the 7/8-mile oval track will have 25,000 to 30,000 seats with room for expansion. The complex will host approximately 25 races annually, including IRL- and ARCA-sanctioned events, as well as possible NASCAR Busch Series and Craftsman Truck Series races. Developers say the track will host other entertainment events, including concerts. No official groundbreaking date has been set.

A summary of the agreement shows that the Newton racetrack is expected to draw 60,000 to 100,000 visitors each year from Midwest cities as far away as Sioux Falls, Minneapolis and Omaha and will have an identifiable impact on local and state economies. Developers project the track will generate $40 million and $48 million in additional retail sales annually in Newton.

“This is one of the biggest things to come to Newton,” said Dennis Julius, a city council member.

But the project’s future was in jeopardy following the April 14 city council meeting, at which the proposed development agreement was passed, but not by a unanimous vote as requested by Schlaack. Instead, it was approved 5-1, with council member Michael Mueller dissenting. A visibly shaken Mueller, who reportedly had a police escort from Monday’s council meeting to his home as a safety precaution, read a prepared statement Wednesday in which he announced he was changing his vote.

“I understand the developer would revoke his participation in the project unless there was unanimous support form the council,” he said. “Therefore, I have no choice but to vote for the agreement.”

Mueller said criticism of his initial vote did not influence his decision.

“I would like to thank all the taxpayers who have supported me,” he said. “I hope you don’t think I caved in from the telephone calls, threats, name calling, threats to run against me or the inflammatory headlines.”

Emotions ranged from tears of joy to thunderous applause and standing ovations when the council passed the measure and later when Schlaack commended Mueller for his courage and credited Newton Community Development Director Jon Ewing for his diligent work in bringing the deal to Newton.

“I will do the very best I can,” Schlaack said. “Our goal is to put on a show for the entire state and your community.”