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Wallowa County commissioners approve application for grandstand renovation funding
Summary
The Wallowa County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 19 voted 3-0 to approve submitting a member-requested local community project form to seek state funding for a grandstand renovation at the county fairgrounds, with staff directed to file the application before the Friday deadline.
Wallowa County commissioners voted 3-0 on Feb. 19 to authorize staff to apply for state legislative member-requested funds for a grandstand renovation at the county fairgrounds.
The move authorizes submission of proposal 202502-18 (FAIR-2), the county’s local community project information form for the Grandstand Renovation Project. Commissioners said the form must show a construction timeline; county staff indicated the applications list 2026 as the projected completion year if funding is awarded.
Commissioner Kimball, who discussed the item with the county’s legislative delegation, said the legislators encouraged jurisdictions not to limit the number of requests. “They were all very clear, do not hold back on giving us both of them,” Kimball said, referring to two projects the county plans to submit. He added, “The only way you're gonna get it is to ask.”
Kimball said he spoke with Senator Dozier and Representatives Rood and Clicker, who told him that legislators may move requests between different funding “pots” and will ask for construction timelines to determine whether projects will be completed in the current biennium. County staff confirmed both of the county’s applications indicate work would finish in 2026 if funded and noted the county already owns the fairgrounds property, so acquisition is not required.
Clerk/recorder Diane and county staff member Jeri Ramsey (and other staff) were identified as preparing and finalizing the application materials. Commissioners thanked staff for the work needed to complete the online forms and asked that the applications be submitted as soon as possible; Kimball and Fulmer said they planned follow-up meetings with legislators this week to continue outreach.
Votes at a glance: the board approved the revised agenda (motion carried 3-0), approved Proposal 202502-18 (FAIR-2) authorizing application for the Grandstand Renovation Project (motion carried 3-0), and later voted to adjourn (motion carried 3-0). The application and agenda motions were adopted unanimously.
Beyond the application, commissioners briefly discussed bringing an opioid-related proposal forward for next week and completing current employee evaluations, but took no formal action on those items at the Feb. 19 meeting.
Staff next steps include finalizing and submitting the local community project information form before the legislative deadline this Friday and continuing outreach to legislators to support the county’s requests.
