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Alpena County commissioners end negotiations with Blackwater over fairgrounds lease
Summary
After intense public comment and constituent outreach, the Alpena County Board of Commissioners voted to end negotiations with Blackwater regarding a proposed lease of the county fairgrounds. Supporters and opponents told the board the property should remain publicly accessible.
The Alpena County Board of Commissioners voted to end negotiations with Blackwater over a proposed lease of county fairgrounds, citing strong constituent opposition and concerns raised during public comment.
A commissioner identified in the record as Travis moved to end negotiations, and the motion received support from several colleagues. During debate, commissioners said their district residents had voiced overwhelming opposition. The board carried the motion in a roll-call vote: Commissioners Lee, Britain, Koseski, Klowski and Peterson voted yes; Commissioners Ledllo, Bray and Fornier voted no.
Residents who spoke during public comment thanked the board for the decision and urged that the county keep the fairgrounds open for community uses. Michael Kramer of Alpena said the vote was a missed opportunity to save the fairgrounds as presented but thanked commissioners for their patience. "I am sorry that it's not passed," Kramer said, adding he believed the county still needs to act to preserve the grounds.
Courtney Trian, president of the fair board, described recent volunteer-led repairs and fundraising: "Just over 50 volunteers attended over three meetings ... We replaced 80 bleacher boards in just nine short hours," and said materials cost about $2,500 after a discount from ProBuild. Several other speakers reported more than $60,000 in pledges toward repairs and urged the county to work with the fairboard and community volunteers going forward.
Board members said the decision reflected both procedural concerns about how the lease negotiations had proceeded and the volume of constituent feedback. The board did not adopt a replacement management plan during the meeting; several commissioners and public speakers urged development of alternatives, greater transparency and a public process for any future proposals.
The board moved on to other business after the vote and will take no further action on the Blackwater lease unless new proposals are brought forward.
