Union County leaders urge $2.5 million for fairgrounds water and sewer upgrades, citing emergency use and accessibility

At a March 10 public hearing, lawmakers heard prolonged testimony in support of House Bill 2527, which would appropriate $2,500,000 to the Union County Fair Association to pay for water and sewer improvements at the Union County Fairgrounds.

Representative Bobby Levy, sponsor of the bill and the state representative for House District 58, told the committee the fairgrounds are the only fairgrounds in Oregon without running water or flushing toilets and that the project has been a priority for several years. Levy said the current septic system is unsustainable and that the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has determined repair is not an option; the only viable solution is to connect to the city of La Grande water and sewer system, a project that will require substantial infrastructure work such as tunneling under the Grand Ronde River or bridging over Interstate 84.

Multiple local officials and residents described the fairgrounds as a community hub and an emergency resiliency site. Reba Hartenstein, a sixth-generation Union County resident, said the fairgrounds welcome thousands of residents and visitors each year and are used year-round for 4-H meetings, livestock shows, emergency response coordination and other events. County Commissioner Jake Seivert described the fairgrounds as a landmark with nearly a century of history and urged support, calling the project "an emergent need for Union County and Oregon."

Union County Commissioner Matt Scarpa testified that partial funding has already been secured: $277,777 from House Bill 5006 (a statewide allocation to fairgrounds), $1,000,000 from House Bill 5202, a $75,000 donation from Northwest Farm Credit, and $250,000 from Union County ARPA funds. Scarpa said the city of La Grande has pledged a matching $250,000 if the requested $2,500,000 is secured. Scarpa also said construction contractors purchased many project materials in advance, which helped prevent larger recent cost increases and kept the current ask at $2.5 million rather than a higher figure.

Nick Vora, Union County Emergency Manager, said the fairgrounds are one of the only local sites with large parking areas, indoor spaces and animal pens that can serve for evacuations, sheltering and supply distribution. Vora noted that during the county’s COVID-19 response the absence of working restrooms presented significant logistical challenges and that a lack of hand-washing and sanitation capacity increases disease-transmission risk when housing animals and people in emergencies.

Witnesses told the committee the project is shovel ready if funds are awarded. Committee members asked clarifying questions about the current lack of water and sewer (testimony said water is carted in for events), the property’s acreage (testimony estimated about 15–17 acres) and the history and urgency of the need. No committee vote on HB 2527 was recorded during the hearing; the public hearing was closed at the end of testimony.