Commissioners approve $50,000 CTF award for Flying Hills Arena bleachers after applicant pledge to match

The board approved a $50,000 Conservation Trust Fund award to the Flying Hills Arena Association to replace the north-side small bleachers, a $128,876 project the applicant said it would match with $50,000 and raise an additional $28,876 from donors. Staff told commissioners the use is permitted under the property's BLM land patent and that accommodation zoning allows outdoor recreation by right; the county determined parking and egress would not create a safety concern.

Applicant Tish Linker described the upgrade as a long-planned safety and comfort improvement that would increase capacity and provide elevated, better seats for spectators. "It's a net of 300 and change seats extra, because it just replaces the footprint of the small ones. But most importantly, they're better seats, because they're elevated," Linker said. One commissioner recused themself from the vote because of a potential conflict of interest; after that recusal the motion passed and the chair was authorized to sign all applicable documents.

Staff and the applicant agreed to coordinate timing and vouchering for the down payment so the ordering schedule is not missed. The county indicated $88,000 remained in the CTF balance across districts and that first-quarter lottery distributions were expected in March.