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Board OKs $5,000 engineering step for proposed equestrian arena at Recreation Park; volunteers pledge labor and fundraising
Summary
Supervisors approved a $5,000 expenditure from the fair line item to fund an engineered erosion‑and‑sediment control plan so staff can determine whether an equestrian arena can be built at the county Recreation Park; volunteer groups offered donated equipment and further fundraising.
The Franklin County Board of Supervisors agreed to provide up to $5,000 from leftover fair funds to pay for an engineered erosion and sediment control (E&S) plan so staff can assess whether the proposed equestrian arena at Recreation Park can proceed without triggering larger stormwater requirements.
Parks advocates and Recreation Advisory Commission members described an arena roughly 150 feet by 250 feet intended for horse shows, rodeo events and community use. Volunteers and local contractors pledged in‑kind support: one volunteer said he would donate equipment, labor and fuel for grading, and the Recreation Advisory Commission indicated it would fundraise for arena panels, seeding and other materials. Project estimates presented to the board showed an initial construction total around $40,000; staff said volunteer fundraising could substantially reduce any county obligation.
Planning staff said the site would need an engineered E&S plan and that if disturbance remained under one acre, stormwater detention ponds might not be required. The planning department advised the board that the project can proceed on county‑owned park property subject to E&S review and site plan permitting rather than a rezoning.
The board voted to allocate $5,000 from the fair fund balance for the E&S plan; staff said the amount would fund initial engineering and that staff would return with final cost estimates and any further funding requests after the plan and fundraising progress.
Action: motion to authorize $5,000 for engineered E&S plan from fair funds passed on roll call; next steps include engineering, permitting and return to board with final budget.
