Board directs staff to prepare purchase agreement with fair board, recommends sale near cost with reverter clause

The Collier County Board directed the county manager to prepare a purchase and sales agreement with the Collier County Fair Board for roughly 100 acres of property used as a fairgrounds and to provide direction on price per acre. County staff reported a recent market value (from a recent appraisal) and reminded the board of the option to sell at less than market value with a reverter provision to protect continued fair use.

Commissioner Kevin McDaniel noted the utilities department had permitted the current fairgrounds as a well field for fresh water supply tied to the county’s Northeast regional wastewater facility work and said relocation of the fairboard’s operations may be necessary. McDaniel said he would recommend not profiting from the sale to the fair board but instead selling at a price equivalent to county cost plus interest and including a reverter clause to return the property to county control if fair operations cease. County staff said they had discussed the proposal with fair board representative Clay Brooker and would carry the details forward into a draft purchase and sale agreement.

The board voted unanimously to direct the manager to prepare the purchase document and to include protections and the recommended pricing approach. Commissioners emphasized they wanted to preserve the fairgrounds’ legacy uses — including the swamp buggy, the fair and the Sheriff’s Youth Ranch — and staff indicated they would bring a formal agreement back for board approval with specific price, deed restriction and reverter language.

No final sale or price was approved at the meeting; staff said they would return with a draft agreement and the formal purchase and sale terms for a subsequent board vote.