CALUMET - According to Todd Brassard, the third year for a new community event is extremely critical for its continued success, and that's the case for the CopperDog 150 sled dog race conducted in Calumet in March.
Brassard, who is race director for the CopperDog 150, and two other representatives of the race, were at the regular Calumet Village Board of Trustees meeting Tuesday to update the council on the event and for assistance.
Meredith LaBeau, assistant race director, said race representatives would like permission from the council to close certain streets for the weekend of March 2 to 4. The requested closures are: Fifth Street from 3 a.m. March 2 to 4 p.m. March 4; Fourth Street from 2:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. March 2; The crossroads of Portland, Oak and Elm from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. March 2, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 3, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 4; Scott Street between Fourth and Fifth streets from 2:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. March 2, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 4.
One half of Fifth Street will be the snow road through the village.
Brassard said a new event for the race weekend is the Red Jacket Cyclotron, which is a bicycle race on snow.
Cyclotron race director Christopher Schmidt said the bicycles use especially wide tires for traction on the snow. That type of bicycle racing is becoming popular, including in the Marquette area.
The Cyclotron would need only one street for the race, Schmidt said.
Despite a limited format, Schmidt said the race is popular with spectators.
"Bikes just go round and round in a circle for an hour," he said. "It can be most tricky on the U-bend."
LaBeau said the Cyclotron is going to be a fairly open event.
"Anybody can come and try," she said.
Brassard said it's hoped 40 to 50 racers will take part in the Cyclotron, which should take four to five hours, depending on the weather.
"I'm really excited about the race," he said. "It could create a festival atmosphere for the whole weekend."
Brassard said the sled dog race registration closed in 10 days, while other races, such as the U.P. 200 based in Marquette, are still registering racers.
Brassard said success in the third year for any new event is most important for maintaining momentum into the future, and adding new events, such as the Cyclotron, can help that momentum. Village participation with such things as snow removal and police protection, are important, also.
"We all need to pull together to make this sustainable," he said. "I think the weekend's got a lot of potential this year."
The trustees voted unanimously to approve the road closures for the race weekend.
In other business, the trustees:
chose the opt-out option for a new employer health insurance law providing caps on public employer contributions because the village's insurance premiums will be lower next year anyway.
heard from village engineer Eric Waara the source of a leak in the Calumet Theatre has probably been discovered. Further examinations will be needed to confirm it.
approved a $40 gift certificate Christmas bonus for the six village employees.
