Marathon organizers are racing to get permits

Less than 24 hours before the Salt Lake City Marathon is to begin, the organizers of the hugely popular race still have yet to secure the proper permits to even hold the event.

Salt Lake County and the city of South Salt Lake have yet to issue permits to Devine Racing for the marathon over payments to police agencies tasked with providing security and traffic control for the race. The financially troubled race organizers have struggled to come up with the money required up front — paying only at the last possible minute.

The Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office will sign off on its permit today, after receiving more than $30,000 to have 144 deputies and officers work during the race. The money came in late Thursday, said Salt Lake County Sheriff's Lt. Don Hutson, after race organizers initially asked to pay a third on Thursday and the remainder on Friday.

"We have every intention of working it," Hutson told the Deseret News after the money had been confirmed.

South Salt Lake is apparently still waiting for a $15,000 check for police services to clear the bank.

"A final decision on permit approval will occur in the morning," South Salt Lake Police Chief Chris Snyder said.

Snyder (a marathon runner himself) has threatened to pull his 30 officers from the race if Devine didn't pay, insisting that taxpayers would not be on the hook and pointing out that Devine Racing has known for more than a year that the bill was due. He received a check last Friday at 5:09 p.m. — after banks had closed.

Racing organizers were hurrying to pay their debts to police agencies.

Salt Lake City Marathon Race Director Scott Kerr (who also works for Devine Racing, which owns the race) said he had a check for the Murray Police Department, which an officer was to collect today at the Salt Palace. Much of the race course preparation was to begin Friday about 11 p.m.

"I think everything is going to be OK," Kerr said. "Some things may pop up, but it's never anything we can't take care of."

Race organizers say they have secured all the proper permits and everything is in place for the race to go forward on Saturday.

"The tents are already up at the Gateway," said Kerr of the race's finish area. "We've been communicating with them and things are moving strong. The barricades are being dropped off tonight."