Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Fair Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Stevens County Fair board seeks county support for $1.5 million grandstand and site upgrades
Summary
Fair board members described a phased plan to replace the nearly 100-year-old grandstand, upgrade utilities and restrooms, and requested county funding and partnership for a $1.5 million capital campaign.
Members of the Stevens County Fair Board presented a capital plan to replace the fair’s aging grandstand and upgrade utility and restroom infrastructure, and asked the county for financial support and partnership on fundraising.
Brian Anderson, a Stevens County Fair Board member, said the fairgrounds experienced flooding two weeks before the event this year and that volunteers and partners helped complete major improvements, including a replaced fence on County Road 22, expanded children’s play area, new arena lights and a new wash rack for sheep and goats. Anderson said the board is requesting a county allocation increase to $45,000 for the fair’s operations and capital needs.
Why it matters: Fairboard leaders told the board their grandstand is nearly 100 years old and increasingly costly to maintain. Jordan (Fair Board) laid out a three-phase Raise the Grandstand plan with an estimated total project cost of approximately $1.5 million. Phase 1 would be demolition and purchase of new aluminum bleacher seating for about 1,200 people (an increase from current capacity) and related site work; later phases include concrete, electrical upgrades and new ADA restrooms. The board reported roughly 20% of the project is already committed from a large private donation and prior county contributions.
Project details and timing: The board said the bleacher seating and site work are the most time-critical items because lead times for fabricated bleachers can be long; their timeline expects demolition and site prep in the fall, a concrete pour in spring and bleacher installation in late spring or early summer so the new seating could be in place before the next fair. Adding a roof over the grandstand was discussed but estimated to add substantially to cost (a roof estimate mentioned in discussion was roughly $450,000 just for the roof). The board said phased construction would allow the grandstand seating to be replaced first and other elements completed later; temporary seating rentals are a backup if work overlaps a fair year.
Funding, operations and requests: In addition to the county allocation request, the fair board said it is planning a capital fundraising campaign, grant seeking and donor outreach. Board members asked the county to consider partnership options, possible grant resources and to help with access to county grant-writing resources. The fair leaders also described on-site needs for improved water and sewer lines, more restroom capacity, and increased electrical service to avoid major generator needs for concerts and other large events.
No formal county funding decision or vote on a capital appropriation occurred during the meeting. Fair Board members said they will continue fundraising and asked the board to consider county support as planning advances.
