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Volunteers pitch Flint Hills Event Complex on county land; commissioners allow fair presentation
Summary
A volunteer task force proposed building a multi-use Flint Hills Event Complex on about 39 acres of county-owned land near the county shop, estimating roughly $20 million in costs and as much as $40 million in economic impact; commissioners agreed by consensus to let the group present plans at the county fair to gauge public support.
A volunteer group asked the Riley County Commission on July 9 for permission to begin public outreach about a proposed Flint Hills Event Complex on roughly 39 acres the county owns west of the county shop.
The group laid out a conceptual plan for an event campus that would replace and expand current fairgrounds facilities with a larger show pavilion, livestock barns, a rodeo arena, expanded carnival space, RV hookups and parking, and an amphitheater. The presenters estimated a roughly $20 million build cost and said architects suggested the complex could support more than 100 events annually, with an economic impact estimate “somewhere in the $40,000,000 range.” The presenters said preliminary groundwork might cost about $4 million and suggested county crews could handle site prep to lower costs.
The task force said it would form a fundraising foundation to accept private donations, sponsorships and naming-rights revenue and proposed using proceeds from any sale of surplus county property to support construction. The group asked for an initial, nonbinding signal of county interest and requested permission to set up a public display and solicit feedback at the upcoming Riley County Fair in two weeks.
Commissioners asked technical questions about water, sewer, access from Highway 24 and nearby easements; county staff said water and electricity appeared feasible, while sewer connections might require tying into a nearby system or an on-site lagoon. Commissioners also stressed the need for a formal agreement before any lease or sale, and asked the presenters to return with details on governance, operations and financing.
The board granted the task force permission by consensus to present the concept at the county fair and to gather community feedback; commissioners stopped short of committing county funds or an official lease pending a future agreement.
If the project advances, the presenters said they would pursue a task force of stakeholders, set up a foundation for private fundraising and work with the county on design and a formal operating plan.
