Neighbors support Legend Valley owners

It seems the Licking Township Trustees were not happy about a recent article saying they were unhappy with Legends Valley's Owner and Juggalos. In fact several criticized The Beacon for publishing a neighbor’s negative comments about the recent Gathering of the Juggalos. If you have not read that article you can do so by CLICKING HERE. Most neighbors who spoke during the trustees meeting did not really have a problem with Legend Valley. Although one thing they did complain about was the fireworks going off late at night. The trustees spoke highly of Legend Valley co-owner Steve Trickle for always working with them. They also stated that if they ever have any problems with the concerts they know they can call Steve or Laurie (Steve’s wife and venue coowner). This is a very good and positive article, which can be read below. From The Buckeye Lake Beacon:

ACKSONTOWN – None of the Legend Valley neighbors present at Monday night’s Licking Township Trustees’ meeting agreed with the anonymous neighbor quoted in last week’s Beacon. Several criticized The Beacon for publishing the neighbor’s negative comments about the recent Gathering of the Juggalos. Kindle Road resident Larry Gerlach lives the closest to Legend Valley. “I had some problems,” he told trustees. “My windows did shake.” His son who lives nearby had something vibrated off a counter. Gerlach thanked Legend Valley co-owner Steve Trickle for confiscating spray cans from concert goers. “We did have problems sleeping at night,” Gerlach added. “The fireworks were the big problem.” He suggested that fireworks be confiscated like spray paint in the future. “If we work with him (Trickle), he will work with us,” Gerlach said. “I’ve got a friend here and I want to keep a friend.” Later in the meeting when Trickle was asked if the Juggalos were returning next year, Gerlach said, “I hope not.” Trickle said, “I can’t answer whether they are coming back next year.” Roley Hill resident Ron Patterson who lives just east of Legend Valley said, “The concerts before Trickle were a hell of a lot worse. We sit outside and listened to it.” Gerlach’s neighbor, Mike Snelling said, “It’s noisy, but it’s good clean music. We enjoy it... We don’t pay a dime to go to the event.” Roley Hills resident Connie Gockenbah said, “If we have a problem we call Steve or Laurie (Steve’s wife and venue coowner).” David Budd, a Roley Hills resident who lives due east of Trickle’s home said, “None of this was a problem. Steve is growing a business and playing within the law. Fireworks are beyond his control… You will have some hooligans in every group. None of that is Steve’s fault.” Earlier in the meeting, Licking Township Fire Company Chief Mike Wilson commented on the concert. He said communication with the out-of-state promoter was the biggest problem. “Vendors weren’t prepared and fire lanes got closed,” he said. Wilson wants a post-concert meeting with the promoters, Trickle, law enforcement agencies and Licking Memorial Hospital. The fire company had five concert related runs before the concert began and four outside the grounds during the concert. “The on-site EMS service did pretty good,” Wilson reported. He believes the contracted service transported about 25 people. Wilson said their concert runs weren’t a hassle and did not affect service to the rest of the township. He didn’t increase staff because the projections for attendance at the four-day event weren’t overwhelming. Township fire inspector Mike Briggs spent the equivalent of a couple days at the concert. He inspected 35 structures and most didn’t pass the first time. His biggest problem was the loss of some fire lanes, but said some Juggalos helped reopen them. “I had absolutely no problem with them (Juggalos),” he concluded. Steve Trickle said he received a lot of calls and emails before the event about what people read on the internet. “I didn’t just say ‘yes’ when they contacted me in February,” he explained. Trickle added that the Licking County Sheriff’s Office didn’t have any problems when headliner Insane Clown Posse performed here seven years ago. “This was rap rock music,” Trickle acknowledged. “It was pretty loud.” He told trustees that contractually he has control over volume after 12:30 a.m. Trickle added that having all-night music keeps the music fans from wondering around. He drives a golf cart on the roads around the site to check on noise. One source of noise were some DJ systems said up in the RV camping area. Trickle asked several to turn their amplifiers down or in another direction. One refused until he agreed to refund his RV fee, he said. “The fireworks were a problem,” Trickle agreed. “They did sneak fireworks in. We will do better to check people’s bags to keep fireworks out.” “I have roughly one (concert) a month,” Trickle explained. “I try to respect the neighbors. My phone rings off the hook from people wanting do shows...One a month is enough.” Trustee Dave Miller complimented Trickle for the quick litter pickup. “I’m thanking our neighbors for putting up with what we are trying to do,” Laura Trickle said. “I’m the grumpiest neighbor on noise.” She said the concert had a major economic impact on the township and Licking County. $30,000 went to the Licking County Sheriff’s Office for special duty deputies inside the grounds, she said. $70,000 went to non-law enforcement people working the concert. Several hundred thousand went into Licking Township. People from every state in the country were present. “I hated this music,” Laura admitted. “We’re trying to put back in this community. We have learned to huddle with our community.” Trustee President Joe Hart said Trickle allows him to come on the premises and responds to his calls. “There are probably as many people as those here who don’t like what is going on,” he added. “There is a variety of opinions.” Hart said trustees adopted a resolution before the concert addressing legal fireworks displays. They must be concluded by 11 p.m. and it applies township-wide. Hart said the promoters were “more helter skelter” than those in the past. Trustee John Holman said he didn’t receive a lot of complaints, but said the Juggalos’ internetreputation caused some sleepless nights for some residents. “There were some attempted sleep-overs at Dawes,” Holman reported. “There is some apprehension out there,” He suggested that Trickle pick and choose concerts carefully to make sure it is worth it.