Pralrie-C1ty-OHV-- Park shut down
By Farren Williams
SACRAME 'TO, CA, MAR. 25
The Sacramento County Board
of upervisor, citing the lack
of available, affordable liability insurance coverage, today
24
voted lO shut down Prairie City OffHighway Vehicle Park, near RandlO
Cordova, California. The uillmimous anion will close the facility to
recreational riders, beginning April
I, but will nO! affect independemly
sponsored evems, as long as race
promoters provide one-time liability
coverdge up front.
The action is not final, according
to Di tri t 5 Supervisor Toby Johnson, but will be made final in July
unless Sacramento County can find
an insunll1ce carrier that will provide
high-risk, OHV park coverage 'II a
reasonable cost.
"We haven't taken a final action;
we've taken a preliminary anion,"
Johnson said. "After July 1 \I'e will
make a final decision. We're hoping
by July 'I we will be able to allow
usage on a regular basis, bUI it will be
the middle part of June before anything will be decided for certain."
"Thecoumy's public Iiability coverage ends March 31, and we have
been unsuccessful in finding a company to provide coverage at any COSt,
let alone a reasonable cost," said
acramentoCounty Director of Park
and Recreation, Gene Anda!' " pecial evenl use of the site will cominue
where we receive liability coverage
from a USCI' grou p or even t promoter. "
The best plan for reopening Prdirie
City to public use. according to AndaJ,
revolves around a propo 'II where
California would provide all-risk
liability coverage. for OHV parks
throughout the state. nder the proposal, California would pay for the
program with monies from the state
off-highway vehicle fund, (derived
from off-road vehicle license fees and
I % of state sales tax revenues).
"Prairie City won't be available
unless the state implements a state
insurance pool out of the OHV fund.
They've agreed to do that but it's not
in the works yet," said Anda!'
The OHV site probably will be
closed for good unless a state fund is
established before July I. Between
April I and June 30, Sacramento
Coumy's liability coverage will come
from the County Supervisors Association of California. The association,
made up of several counLies within
the state, provides an insurance pool
for coumies unable lO obl