Rally Starts Friday; Sheriff Sets Safety Plan

Van Zandt County law enforcement agencies met earlier this week to finalize a safety plan as a biker rally gets under way today (Friday).

The "Wetter and Wilder 2009" biker rally, hosted by Sawmill Steakhouse and Private Club, has drawn criticism from Van Zandt County Sheriff R.P. "Pat" Burnett.

The sheriff again this week said club owner Bill Creed failed to convince him that a proper safety plan had been established for the three-day event.

"There is no plan. I asked him (Creed) what he was going to do if a fight breaks out and his response was to send them home. That’s not a plan.

"We’ve had to do a safety plan ourselves," he added about the meeting. Even though it will be a lot of time and energy and tax dollars, I hope no one shows up and it’s not a problem."

Burnett said the meeting included county jail staff, officials from the Sabine River Authority (SRA), county emergency coordinator Chuck Allen, and representatives from the Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Parks and Wildlife, Wills Point Police Department, Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission and Texas Department of Transportation.

Creed counters that he is "being harassed" by Burnett and that he does have appropriate safety measures in place for the event this weekend.

"We’ve been working on this since August last year when we opened up," Creed said. "We have planned, and first and foremost is the safety of those who will be at the rally."

He added that he has hired six off-duty law enforcement officers to provide security as well as having an emergency medical technician on the site. Creed also said the property has been gone through by electricians and plumbers and has passed all inspections.

He said he is not offended by the idea of a sheriff’s office-led command post near the event site on Lake Tawakoni.

"To me, I think it’s great. I’m not going to be upset if they are out there," Creed said.

"I’m not trying to have a confrontation with the sheriff. It is the other way around," he added."

In a sometimes-heated conversation with the two men before county commissioners last month, Creed said those at the event wanting to buy beer would have to purchase a Sawmill private club membership.

Speaking Tuesday, Creed said he believes alcohol is at the center of the conflict.

"We met every one of the state requirements for a private club license. I understand the concern about drunk driving and we don’t like that either," he said.

"The only thing I’m trying to do is make a living. I’m not trying to hurt or upset anybody, and I don’t want a fight. I want everything to go smooth and make a little money, pay my taxes to the county, and everybody be happy with that. But I keep hitting this wall," Creed added.

Burnett denied there was anything personal about the issues he has raised with the event.

"We have to plan for the worst and hope for the best," Burnett said. "Our community standards are higher than the problems this event could cause and not being planned well for it."

"…We have to have a plan to where our community is safe and secure," Burnett continued. "I hope the people who go to the rally have a good time and are safe and secure. But since the owner does not have a sufficient plan in place, I have to have one."

Creed said the rally will include a biker church on Sunday morning hosted by the Christian Motorcycle Association. He said Bikers Against Child Abuse will be there as well and the event will also try to raise money for a Wood County Sheriff’s Office deputy going through cancer treatment.

The event will also feature live music, including a "Battle of the Bands" contest.

However, Creed said the recent negative publicity might have hurt advance ticket sales and interest. He also said because of concern expressed by SRA officials about camping accommodations, he has been directing campers to the Tawakoni State Park.

"There are a whole bunch who think we’ve cancelled and I have no idea why. We just want some customers, bikers, and non-bikers alike…and for everyone just to have a good time, legally," he said.