A local business may soon be adding monster truck rides to the list of services it offers.
Minto council received a request to lease four acres of vacant industrial park land for the operation at the Dec. 15 meeting.
The request was submitted by Murray Marquardt of Stones ‘n More Landscape Products, located along Highway 9 in the Harriston Industrial Park.
Stones ‘n More re-located to Minto from Moorefield in 2010 in order to facilitate growth and has expanded from two employees to 12.
Marquardt proposes creating a track to offer rides on the land behind his store. Rides would be provided on a monster truck equipped with governors limiting the speed to 15km/h and other safety features.
The facility would be a basic track “with a few soft rollers placed strategically in order for everyone to have a safe, exciting ride,” states Marquardt in a letter to council.
“We don’t believe it’s going to be a dangerous thing for the people that are going to be riding on it obviously,” said CAO Bill White. “We don’t see it as a huge risk or exposure to the municipality.”
Marquardt, who’s monster truck appeared recently in local Santa Claus parades, suggests the facility would benefit the town and other local businesses by drawing crowds to the community.
“I think it’s good. It’s things like this that have really taken Minto ahead of other municipalities because we have a bit of an open mind when it comes to stuff like this. I mean, this could be something fairly big for Mr. Marquardt. I support this,” said councillor Dave Turton. On the other hand, Turton quipped, “He would likely have a monster truck for sale if we say no.”
Council authorized the mayor and clerk to sign an agreement to lease the land pending confirmation it is appropriately zoned.
