Give the details on bike show decision

We have no doubt that Grayslake officials were genuinely concerned about the welfare of the community when they decided at the last minute to cancel a permit for the Ironhorse Roundup Bike Show.

And it is possible that the threat to public safety was so great and the potential precautions that could be taken so limited that there was no alternative.

We don't doubt their good intentions at all.

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But they owe the public -- and especially the event's sponsors, vendors and participants -- a detailed explanation for the decision.

As yet, all the public has been told is that the Illinois State Police Statewide Terrorism and Intelligence Center received information that members of the Outlaws motorcycle club were planning to attend the show.

The public hasn't been told much more than that. Police Chief Larry Herzog said Monday the village got word about the motorcycle club's attendance Friday afternoon, and the decision to cancel Sunday's planned event was made in about two hours.

"The decision was easy," Herzog said. "The discussion among Grayslake officials was very difficult concerning the expected aftermath of our decision."

Contrast that with a statement released by Grayslake Mayor Tim Perry on Tuesday: "This was a difficult decision to make."

In other words, one village official says the decision was easy, while another village official says it was difficult.

If the decision-makers themselves can't agree on how easy the decision was, how can the public be expected to determine its merits unless more information is released?

Make no mistake about it. This was a major decision with no small consequences.

About 40,000 motorcyclists were expected for the show at the fairgrounds, drawn not just from the Chicago suburbs but throughout the Midwest. Vendors from around the country had made plans to be there.

Even after the cancellation, 1,000 bikers packed the parking lot Sunday of the motorcycle show sponsor, Austin's Saloon Eatery in Libertyville.

Mark Khayat, owner of Austin's, estimated the cancellation cost his business more than $100,000.

That doesn't mean authorities should have allowed the show to go on.

But that is significant enough to emphasize that they owe the public answers -- a detailed explanation of the information used to make the decision to cancel.

Was the threat real? Or was the decision to cancel an overreaction? The public needs detailed information in order to make an assessment.