Franklin County commissioners discuss fairgrounds steer barn, power, parking and internet upgrades

Commissioner Chair Robert Swainston told the Franklin County commissioners on April 12, 2024, that the county plans a new steer barn and that, if it is completed before the annual fair, the old wooden barn could be torn down. He said the fairgrounds currently face electrical capacity limits and that the county needs to upgrade power to support the new facilities and events.

The discussion covered several operational and safety items that would accompany improvements. The Fairboard is pursuing a beautification grant to add 12‑foot grass strips and picnic tables between the arena and the sheds, and participants discussed closing the north end of the grounds during rodeo events to provide a staging area for an ambulance. The Rodeo Committee agreed to place removable poles and barricades to secure the area while allowing vehicle access when needed, the minutes show.

Swainston also reported that the commissioners will sign a lease with the Kiwanis club and that the county will provide $300 to the Rodeo Committee to assist with garbage cleanup; the county is still waiting for a proposed lease from the Lions club, he said. Attendee Lana Jenkins asked the board to install a water shutoff valve next to the Kiwanis building to improve utility access.

Commissioner Dirk Bowles said a subdivision being developed west of the fairgrounds will allow the county to exchange gravel for a green space, adding two acres to the fairground property now and possibly two more when the subdivision is fully built. Bowles said those two acres could be used for rodeo parking and that staff or volunteers could mark spaces with spray paint for the rodeo weekend. Commissioner Boyd Burbank asked that the new parking area include designated handicap‑accessible spaces.

Burbank raised internet connectivity as a priority, saying he will research Wi‑Fi options and whether fiber is feasible and offering donated labor for installation. Wes Harris, Fairboard chairman, said the Bull Bonanza group would help pay for the internet improvements.

John Pearce, a Market Animal Board member, recommended contacting Steve Liechty for a site review and a price estimate to upgrade electrical service to the fairgrounds. Bowles also proposed moving the practice arena east and erecting a privacy fence between the arena and a neighboring homeowner to reduce impacts on adjacent properties.

The meeting adjourned at 1:05 p.m. The minutes record next steps as staff and volunteers researching power and internet upgrades, the Fairboard pursuing grant funding, and the commissioners preparing the Kiwanis lease; no formal votes or roll‑call tallies were recorded in the minutes.