Plans to hold the 2009 Harleyfest in Hell nearly went down in flames Wednesday night.
The Putnam Township Board of Trustees voted by a one-vote margin against a proposal to deny Greater Media Detroit’s event permit to hold the annual event at Hell Creek Ranch, despite an event ordinance that requires 90 days’ notice. The board voted by the same margin to allow the company, which operates WRIF-FM radio, to return to the board with documentation outlining police, security, insurance, parking and other plans. Most of those details &mdash including a proposal for Michigan State Police coverage &mdash have already been arranged, said Ken Wasilewski, Greater Media’s director of event marketing. The 11th annual event, scheduled for July 11, is expected to draw 12,000 people. “This event is a pretty substantial amount of people,” said Township Supervisor Ron Rau, who later noted the 666 Party, held June 6, 2006, brought nearly as many people to celebrate in the hamlet of Hell, about two miles southwest of Pinckney in rural southwestern Livingston County. Rau recalled problems that arose from that party, including road congestion and reports of public drunkenness.
“That’s why I’m requesting that this permit be denied,” he said.