Council approves sale of neighboring Kansas State Fair house at 206 E. 19th Ave., Hutchinson

The State Finance Council on March 24 approved the sale of a Kansas State Fair-owned house at 206 East Nineteenth Avenue in Hutchinson following a public online auction that closed Feb. 12, 2025.

Paul Bernkoff of the Office of Facilities and Property Management presented the item, saying the 988-square-foot residence had been purchased to expand fairgrounds parking but that higher property prices made the plan infeasible. Bernkoff said the secretary of administration designated the parcel surplus and the governor approved moving forward under K.S.A. 75-6609. He said the Kansas Department of Revenue-appointed appraiser valued the property at $85,000 and that the auction closed with a high bid of $80,030, including the buyer's premium. The high bidder provided $8,030 in earnest money to hold escrow until council approval.

Bernkoff said the auctioneer, the Department of Administration and the Kansas State Fair agreed the result represented the best obtainable value under the circumstances and that sale would relieve the Kansas State Fair of upkeep costs. He said proceeds minus Department of Administration fees and any back taxes will be deposited in accordance with statute and that the state plans to close the transaction after council approval.

Speaker Hawkins moved to approve the sale; President Masterson seconded. The council conducted a roll call vote and all members present voted in favor.

Votes at a glance: Motion to approve sale of 206 East Nineteenth Avenue passed with all nine members present voting aye (President Masterson; Senator Blasey; Senator Sykes; Senator Billinger; Speaker Hawkins; Representative Croft; Representative Woodard; Representative Waymaster; Governor Kelly).