Commission debates steer-tailing, approves temporary rodeo permit with conditions

The Leavenworth County Board of Commissioners held a public hearing on May 4 for Case DEV 26-034, a temporary special use permit to hold three charreada equine events at Rancho El Diamante and approved the permit with conditions after debate over whether to prohibit steer-tailing.

Planning staff told commissioners the applicant seeks three event dates (May 23, July 4 and Oct. 10), anticipates up to 500 attendees and about 200 vehicles for each event, and proposed set‑up/breakdown windows spanning the weekends. Staff recommended conditions including ten portable toilets (three ADA-compliant), screening dumpsters from public rights-of-way, adherence to state equine statutes including Coggins testing, and removal of temporary structures not permitted by a floodplain permit within two business days.

Proponents and event organizers answered commissioners’ questions during the public hearing. Ron Lopez, a family friend of the applicant who said he has produced rodeos, told the board, “I think they covered everything pretty well,” and urged commissioners to evaluate the application’s safety protocols. Daniel Burgess, the project manager who prepared the application, said the team based event planning on similar events and local experience.

Commission discussion centered on steer-tailing — an event that several veterinarians had described in prior briefings as carrying severe injury risk. Commissioners debated whether to add a condition that specifically barred steer-tailing. A motion to approve the permit with that condition failed in commission votes; a subsequent motion to approve the temporary special use permit as presented passed. Commissioners said they will monitor compliance with the permit’s animal-care and public-safety conditions.

What the permit requires: staff-recommended standard conditions for temporary events (portable toilets, food-service oversight, waste screening), compliance with state animal-health statutes and prompt removal of unauthorized temporary structures in the floodway.

Next steps: The permit is approved for the three dates presented; enforcement and any future changes to animal‑welfare policy will follow county processes and any future local animal‑cruelty resolutions.