Cars may keep racing at the Casper Speedway under leadership of the Casper Speedway Association, if the Casper City Council approves a renewed lease agreement today.

The Casper Speedway Association gained leadership of the speedway in 2005, winning favor over two other proposals.

Board secretary Amy Schicketanz worried earlier this year that if the council didn't approve a new lease, three years worth of work and money raised would be for naught.

Schicketanz told the council in a recent work session that the association has "enjoyed our time at the facility" and has very few, if any, driver complaints.

The organization is also a member of WISSOTA, an association that works to provide uniform rules for racing organizations throughout the West and Midwest.

"This is a family event on Friday night," she told the council. "We have a clear vision for the speedway, and we are seeing a lot more community involvement. We're finally getting to a place where we are moving forward."

City Parks Manager David Hough said he has heard very few complaints about the track. Past complaints about managers ranged from loud noise to poorly run races.

Council member Keith Goodenough wanted the council to place the option to run the track up for proposals again, to make sure it didn't look like an inside deal.

But not all city facilities are placed for proposals each time the lease runs through, according to Assistant City Manager Linda Witko.

As long as the organization maintains a positive relationship with the city and the community, it won't necessarily be open for bid.

Mayor Paul Bertoglio commented that some of the past tenants of the Casper Speedway have not always maintained the best relationship with the community. Therefore, a group like the speedway association that has been successful and garnered few complaints should be allowed to continue.

The council preliminarily decided to approve the three-year lease and will vote formally tonight.

The council will also vote for the second of three needed approvals to ban electronics from the landfill. Electronics often contain harmful materials such as lead and mercury and should be recycled, according to Solid Waste Division Manager Cynthia Langston.

Contact city reporter Christine Robinson at (307) 266-0639 or christine.robinson@trib.com

To attend

The Casper City Council meeting will be at 6 tonight in City Hall, 200 N. David St.