Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Fairgrounds topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Fairgrounds projects top list but commissioners debate piecemeal fixes vs. full rebuild
Summary
County staff presented prioritized fairgrounds needs — frost‑free hydrant replacements, a consolidated tool shed and kitchen upgrades — but warned that underlying sewer and plumbing problems could make a full renovation (roughly $370,000) necessary rather than piecemeal fixes.
Park County staff presented three top fairgrounds capital priorities April 14 after a stakeholder meeting, but commissioners questioned whether smaller fixes make sense while major plumbing and utility work remains unresolved.
The presenter said the top priority list includes replacing three frost‑free hydrants (estimated $14,500 for priority one items), consolidating scattered tool storage into a single maintenance shed and a range of kitchen improvements. "The 1st 1 is the frost free water hydra improvements project with the estimated cost of 14,500," Presenter said.
On the tool shed, staff proposed replacing multiple small sheds with a single 12x24–12x30 structure with electricity and suggested vendor financing or phased payments as an option. Commissioners discussed whether a shed could attach to an existing building for savings.
Kitchen improvements drew the most substantive debate. Staff provided a broad cost range ($36,000–$78,000) for replacing hood, griddle and fryers but cautioned that the site's sewer, water and gas piping under the building are failing and that doing a full utility replacement — including breaking concrete slab or running new lines — could become a single major project of about $370,000. "If we looked at a 1 project, I bet we're looking at around $370,000," Presenter said, explaining that sewer and water work under the slab makes partial fixes difficult.
Kristen from grants reminded the commission that an EECBG grant project for HVAC remains incompletely reimbursed and that ARPA funds for fairgrounds work are limited (~$19,000 remaining), leaving the county liable for the full EECBG project cost if federal payments are delayed.
Commissioners emphasized prioritizing durable, long‑term fixes over incremental repairs that would need repeating and asked staff to clarify engineering and financing options before proceeding.
What happens next: staff will refine cost breakdowns, check financing options, and return with more detailed estimates and engineering recommendations.
