Okeechobee Mudfest

[BigDog]

GREAT to hear this awesome event on Hwy 70 east of Okeechobee will be back on in February and August 2011.

[DocMurphy]

And you heard this from?
John Sales I hear took a serious beating on the last few fest he had with the deaths at the event and thought that was the last of it, would be great if it did come back cause NO ONE does MUDFEST like SALE'S

[JeepGirl]

BigDog is right......public record.......

The County Planning Board met in the Health Department Auditorium on Tuesday
evening; Alternate Member Mitchell Hancock voted in the absence of Jeff
Sumner. Also present were County Commissioner Bryant Culpepper and
Undersheriff Noel Stephen. There was not a Board Attorney or a member of the
press present for the meeting.

Minutes were unanimously approved. There were no public comments.

After fairly lengthy discussion, by a vote of 5:2 (Ted Kelchner and Carl
Ferraro opposed) the Board followed Staff's recommendation that they
recommend to the County Commission that the BOCC authorize the Planning &
Development Department to issue Temporary Use Permits for 3 Okeechobee
MudFest events in February 2011, August 2011, and February 2012, subject to
5 conditions, the main one being to schedule a de-briefing meeting after
each event for assessment and feedback. The recommendation includes that an
officer be stationed at the entrance to the Crooked Creek subdivision at the
discretion of the Sheriff's Department. The main area for concern by the
dissenting voters was that 2012 was a long way out and they suggested the
permits should be issued one at a time instead of all 3 at once. One of the
applicants, Debbie Sales, asked that they be approved together so they can
advertise for upcoming events at the first event. She added these would
likely be the final 3 events since their 270-acre property will soon be
about 27 acres smaller due to land acquisitions for FDOT's project to 4-lane
SR 70. Applicant Carla Hales was also present. Noel Stephen gave his opinion
that as long as the applicants continue to cooperate with the County, the
events should be okay. Bryant Culpepper started to address the Board but was
asked to hold his comments for the BOCC meeting on December 16th at 9:00am.
When asked, Sales reviewed event pricing: 2 events ago in 2008 their rates
were $15/day and $30/weekend resulting in approximately 12,000 participants,
their last event rates were $50/day and $100/weekend with about 5,000
participants, rates for their next event will be $20/day and $40/weekend.
Economic impacts to Okeechobee were vaguely discussed though no formal study
has been completed. When asked, County Planning Director Bill Royce said it
would take a major event failure for his office to not issue permits for the
2nd or 3rd event. Hoot Worley said he was okay with it as long as County
Staff and the Sheriff's Department were okay with it and no one from Crooked
Creek was upset about it. Royce said traffic is the biggest concern and
signs will be posted 1 week prior to the events warning travelers to expect
delays. Stephen added that the tremendous back-ups are caused since the
event is held on a main thoroughfare and that traffic isn't as bad when
these type of events are held off the beaten path. Kelchner noted that these
have never come before the Planning Board before; Royce responded that they
should have once the event traffic became so heavy.

[DocMurphy]

Awesome news, I'm really looking forward to these.

[crom A zone]

time to let them 4 wheels spin in the mud

[EIGER-MUDDER]

that place sucks its small but its a place to ride

[crom A zone]

this place is small and the best party ever only the tru wheels no how to ride there

[Mudneck]

One of the best mud parties I have ever been to.

[outindeltona]

Small? Are we talking about the same mudfest? Last one I was at I got stuck in a 2 hour traffic jam just getting into the mud hole..at least 10 big trucks stuck at a time,lots of beads and alcohol..no real complaints from me other than the long lines to get in.and there nothing like the sound of open headers on a serious engine to wake up to.

[renmus]

According to today's issue of Okeechobee News the County gave the OK to permit for three mudfests.  The article states that temporary permits will be issued for Feb and August of 2011 and Feb of 2012.  It reads that residents close to the site worried about thieves more than anything.  A pretty good list of conditions were placed inclucing private security, separate entrance for emergency vehicles, and traffic signs to warn of delays.  Also that they have a broom truck and water truck to keep SR70 clear of mud.   So, it sounds like a total go from here.

[crom A zone]

hel ya can we say party time.....

[noxcape0821]

How much does it cost to get into mudfest this year?