Augusta commissioners gave City Administrator Fred Russell the green light Thursday to move forward with developing a drag racing track in south Augusta, much to the dismay of residents who would live next door to it.

In a 6-3 vote, commissioners voted to negotiate a land swap or purchase with the Development Authority of Richmond County for land in the 1,700-acre site off Mike Padgett Highway and consult with a bond adviser about developing a $6 million revenue bond package to help pay for development.

Commissioners also authorized Mr. Russell to pursue engineering and construction firms and to look for a partner to provide private funding.

The bonds would be paid from the track's profits, Mr. Russell said.

Commissioner Andy Cheek made the motion to authorize Mr. Russell to proceed and recommended a closure date in 180 days.

Commissioner Jerry Brigham, who - along with Commissioners Don Grantham and Jimmy Smith - voted against the motion, said commissioners do not have the authority to issue bonds on construction projects, especially without sending it to voters for approval.

"That's usually reserved and granted to a development agency," he said. "The only kind of bonds we normally can grant are general obligation bonds, which the public has to approve or revenue bonds for an enterprise revenue fund like the waterworks."

However, City Attorney Stephen Shepard said voters Tuesday passed the Redevelopment Powers Act, which could give them leeway in the bonding process.

Commissioner Jimmy Smith, who represents that district, said the government doesn't need to be in the racetrack business.

Mr. Grantham asked Mr. Russell whether he knew of any other governments involved in racetracks. If so, and if they were money-makers, he'd like to invest in them, he said.

Mr. Russell said he has found some other governments in the racetrack business and recommended commissioners proceed with the project.

Interim District 4 Commissioner Calvin Stevenson said growth is going to come to Augusta, which is 25 years behind the times. He said when he moved here from North Carolina he couldn't believe how backward the city was.

After the vote, residents gathered in the hallway to lament the vote.

Seventy-year Horseshoe Road resident Carl Walker called the decision "terrible."

Resident Helen Yarbrough said she would be able to throw a rock from her backyard to the track and that the noise, dust and fumes would rob residents of their health.

"Tell me we can't hear it," she said. "We sat on our back porch the day they took the two cars out there and we heard them with the speakers. My husband sat there on the back porch and heard everything they were saying."

Afterward, when asked whether he had any sympathy for the residents, Mr. Cheek said he had conducted sound measurements at the nearest house and two cars revving up at the track site couldn't be heard.

"In fact, the airplane overhead was twice as loud," he said.

Mr. Brigham said he didn't think commissioners should be investing the public's money in a business enterprise.

"We're going to end up with a brand-new mouse trap that probably isn't going to work and is going to go on surplus sale," he said.