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Polk County committee forwards Fair Society’s $400,000 grandstand proposal to budget review
Summary
The Polk County Fair Society offered $400,000 toward a new grandstand—$200,000 on completion and $200,000 amortized over 15 years—and the committee voted to forward the proposal to the general government committee and County Board for budget consideration and contract negotiations.
The Polk County Fair Society told a county committee it will contribute $400,000 toward construction of a new grandstand at the Polk County Fairgrounds, and committee members voted to forward the proposal to the general government committee and the County Board for discussion and potential inclusion in the 2025 budget.
Andy Chartrand, liaison for the fair society, said the offer mirrors a prior agreement with updated terms: $200,000 to be paid as a lump sum when a “100% finished turnkey facility” is complete and the remaining $200,000 amortized over 15 years with annual payments not to exceed $18,000. Chartrand said the fair society seeks involvement in final design and acceptance of the final bid. “We just wanna make sure that it’s a fair ready grandstand,” he said.
County staff and committee members questioned the payment timing and how completion would be certified. One staff member suggested using a substantial-completion standard, final punch list, or a mutually agreed inspection before releasing the lump sum. Corporation counsel Joe Loso told the committee the proposal, as presented, should go to the County Board, which would be able to direct administrators to draft a formal contract or negotiate alternate terms.
Committee members also discussed funding options. County staff presented a draft budget showing a balanced $54.5 million budget and a current estimate for the grandstand at about $1.7 million. Options discussed included the administrator’s $600,000 additional funding request, the fair society’s $400,000 pledge, reallocating $800,000 in unspent broadband funds, and limited bonding capacity. Committee members asked to coordinate specs with Cedar Corp before bidding to reduce end-of-project disputes.
The committee voted to forward the fair society proposal to the general government committee and the County Board for further discussion and potential budget consideration; members also agreed to convene a committee-of-the-whole or meet with staff to clarify contract language before final submission.
