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Commissioners greenlight next phase of Fairgrounds work with paving, electrical and horse‑barn repairs
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Summary
Board reviewed phase‑2 Fairgrounds plans — electrical work, 53,300 sq ft midway paving, horse barn repairs and landscaping — and heard funding status (rough estimates and available Ready/foundation funds); commissioners gave approval to proceed and approved related motions.
County officials provided a multi-part update on the Fairgrounds improvement project and sought final county approval to proceed with phase 2 work.
The presenter summarized completed improvements (tiled track, remodeled farm & home building with new HVAC, and a finished community building) and outlined phase‑2 priorities: electrical distribution pedestals (REMC flagged for wiring), paving of a 53,300-square‑foot midway area, backtrack entrance paving, horse barn repairs and potential bleacher/terracing work at the track. The presenter said REMC has begun flagging for electrical pedestals and that contractor Rossfeld will complete electrical hookups. The goal is to have electrical and paving work completed before the fair.
Financial figures were presented as maximum estimates for budgeting: a phase‑2 package total cited as $870,072 (presenter described these numbers as max figures that include owner‑approved contingency). The presenter said the county has previously paid roughly $2.22 million on the community building project, with $519,636.89 remaining of an initial Ready allocation and $617,630.62 available in the community foundation, leaving about $1,137,267.51 in combined available funding. The speaker said $267,194 could be returned under the original return agreement before considering outstanding pledges and that local fundraising could reduce net county exposure.
Commissioners discussed alternatives for paving (partial concrete crossings where heavy equipment crosses asphalt) and landscaping costs (an $18,810 line item for landscaping near the community building was flagged for additional discussion and potential reductions). The board agreed in principle to move forward; a motion to proceed with the presented phase‑2 plan passed by voice vote.
Officials also flagged downstream considerations, including potential needs for an event coordinator position if the county invests in more event-oriented infrastructure (bleachers/terracing and expanded parking) and the need to coordinate stormwater/drainage approvals before paving large hard-surface areas.
