Coffeyville commission approves application for $1.5 million CDBG grant to renovate fairgrounds

Coffeyville City Manager Ben Brubaker told the City Commission on May 29 that the city is seeking a $1.5 million Community Development Block Grant to upgrade aging livestock barns and to support a covered livestock and equestrian facility at the Coffeyville Fairgrounds.

Brubaker said engineers estimate roughly $1,000,000 to upgrade five existing barns and about $4.4 million to build a new 200-by-300 indoor livestock and equestrian building, with optional add-ons (fire suppression, insulation and similar items) that could add up to about $1 million. He said the city anticipates about $1.65 million in potential outside funding and estimated a city share of about $2.75 million if the larger project is built.

Why it matters: Brubaker framed the work as a public-safety and economic-development effort. He described structural concerns — roofing failures, sagging rafters and a live overhead electrical line — and said fairgrounds events draw visitors from surrounding states, offering the potential for increased sales-tax revenue to Coffeyville businesses.

“These are decades-old barns with significant safety issues,” Brubaker said during the presentation, adding that the city’s electric department has identified a live line crossing the buildings “that’s really not to code.” He also cited third-party location-data that he said showed 109,000 visitors who spent at least 10 minutes at the fairgrounds between May 1, 2018, and May 15, 2025, with an average visit of 166 minutes.

Public comment: Two speakers told the commission they supported the project. Shanna Modell, a rural Coffeyville resident, described the fairgrounds as a regional draw and said the barns are deteriorating. “I think we have got the best use out of that piece of property that we can,” she said. Johnny Wilde, head rodeo coach at Coffeyville Community College, said an indoor facility would aid recruiting and allow local events and weekday practice when weather is poor.

Funding and operations: Brubaker said the city has applied for an additional $150,000 grant from a local fund and can draw on designated sales-tax economic-development and capital-improvement funds, subject to commission approval. He estimated fairgrounds maintenance at $60,000–$100,000 per year and recommended hiring at least a part-time staff member to market and manage events.

Commission action: The commission approved resolution R-25-54, authorizing the mayor to submit the CDBG application, and resolution R-25-55, assuring the Kansas Department of Commerce the city will provide continuing operation and maintenance funds if the grant is awarded. The motions carried with recorded ayes from Mayor Maples, Vice Mayor Van Oster, Commissioner Faulkner, Commissioner Edwards and Commissioner Goldner on R-25-54; R-25-55 was approved on a separate vote with recorded ayes.

What’s next: Brubaker said the application would be submitted immediately and the city expects a decision by the Department of Commerce in the timeline supplied by the grant program, with an award date possibly by June 28. If the grant is awarded, the city plans to proceed to design services and coordinate placement and operations with the Montgomery County Fair Association and other stakeholders.