OPS 250 gets OK from town

OXFORD — Oxford town officials gave a green flag to the Oxford Plains Speedway for its 2012 schedule, after the Board of Selectmen approved mass gathering permits on January 19.

After a public hearing on the subject drew no comments, the board approved the permits unanimously.

"We've had no negative feedback from fire, ambulance or police," reported Town Manager Michael Chammings.

Bill J. Ryan, Jr., who owns the speedway through Ryan Sports Group, LLC, submitted an application on December 30, in which he indicated that he expected 4,000 attendees at the bulk of the events.

The application laid out the schedule for the speedway, which begins with a Saturday, May 12 practice, and runs through the OPS Fall Finale on Sunday, September 30.

The board also approved a permit for the Oxford Plains Speedway/TD Bank 250, which will be held on July 22, with an expected 14,250 attendees.

The permit application details demonstrate the size and scale of the 250.

Under the terms of the permit, Oxford Rescue will provide a sub-station for the weekend. There will be six dumpsters and 27 toilets on the premises, including the four permanent restrooms on the site. Four traffic controllers will work the 45-acre parking area.

Rand Insurance will provide $5 million in coverage, and the property carries $4 million in coverage.

Ryan paid a $250 fee to submit the application.

In other news, the board:

• Unanimously denied an abatement request for Craig Benson.

• Approved the transfer of $350 from a police reserve account for the purchase of uniform hats for Christmas for the officers.

• Heard a discussion about Governor Paul LePage, in which citizens said that LePage should visit Oxford.