State Finance Council approves sale of Kansas State Fair house at 202 E. 19th Ave., Hutchinson

The State Finance Council on March 24 approved the sale of a Kansas State Fair-owned house at 202 East Nineteenth Avenue in Hutchinson, Kansas, following a public online auction that closed Feb. 12, 2025.

Paul Bernkoff of the Office of Facilities and Property Management told the council the property is a 1,106-square-foot residence that the fair had originally acquired to expand parking near the fairgrounds but that plan is no longer feasible. Bernkoff said the Kansas State Fair requested the property be declared surplus and that the secretary of administration and the governor subsequently approved the surplus designation and sale process pursuant to K.S.A. 75-6609. "The property was appraised at $87,000 by an appraiser appointed by the Kansas Department of Revenue," Bernkoff said. "A public online auction was held and closed on Feb. 12, 2025, with a high bid of $57,200 including the buyer's premium."

Bernkoff told the council the auctioneer, the Department of Administration and the Kansas State Fair concluded the high bid represented the best value under the circumstances, noting the interior condition and an obsolescent floor plan affected market interest. He said the Kansas State Fair currently pays upkeep costs for the parcel and that sale proceeds, minus any Department of Administration fees and outstanding back taxes, will be deposited in accordance with statute. He said the state plans to close on the property after council approval.

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

Votes at a glance: The motion to approve the sale of 202 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).