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Both grandstands have been ruled unsafe for use. A public meeting will be held January 8 to present options for grandstand repair or replacement and other fairgrounds improvements.
By Ken Graham
At a meeting of the Columbia County Board of Commissioners in November, an engineering report was presented which showed that both the east and west grandstands at the county fairgrounds have serious structural problems. The Anderson Perry and Associates report recommends that the grandstands not be used by the public until major repairs are made or they are replaced.
Commissioner Dick Jones says that there is no chance that the grandstands can be used in their present condition for 2009 events. "Knowing what we know now, the liability is too great," he says.
The east grandstands were closed for 2008 events, due to structural and code violation problems. The engineering report completed this fall showed serious structural problems with the roof on the west grandstands. Jones says that if the roof were removed from the west grandstands, they could likely be used for events in 2009. "Removing the roof leaves those grandstands open to serious deterioration from the weather," says Jones, "so that would be only a very short-term fix."
Dayton Chamber of Commerce Director Lisa Ronnberg is heading a committee of fairgrounds users and other concerned citizens to consider short-term and long-term options for repairs and upgrades of the fairgrounds facilities. During a committee meeting in December, members of the Dayton Days committee, the All Wheels Weekend committee and the Columbia County Fair Board all said that not having the grandstands available in 2009 would have a serious impact on their events this year. All Wheels Weekend and the Columbia County Fair would likely still be held – although with some events eliminated. However, the Dayton Days committee said that, if it were impossible to hold horse racing, which requires use of the grandstands, their event – this year's 91st annual Dayton Days - likely would not be held.
A public meeting on the future of the fairgrounds will be held on January 8th at 8:00 p.m. in the main court room at the Columbia County Court House. At the meeting, representatives of the three groups will describe potential impacts to their events. Then, several proposed options for repairs and improvements of the grandstands and other fairgrounds facilities will be presented. These are likely to include:
Now Urgent Requirement – Remove the roof from the west grandstand to allow its use during 2009 events, and close the east grandstand.
Long term options:
A. Replace both grandstands with a single grandstand, with facilities for concessionaires underneath.
B. Replace both grandstands with a single grandstand, with facilities for concessionaries in a separate building which would include pari-mutuel facilities.
C. Replace grandstand with facilities A or B and refurbish pavilion.
D. Replace grandstand with facilities A or B and refurbish pavilion and update Youth building.
F. Replace grandstand with facilities A or B and build new community center building (which would include all amenities in the current pavilion and youth building, and be built for concurrent multiple use activities).
Commissioner Jones says that the committee, along with the commissioners and the county engineer, will be researching possible funding options for work on the grandstands and other fairgrounds improvements. He says, that while some outside money may be available, it is likely that any funding scenario would include asking local voters to approve a bond levy to help pay for the work at the fairgrounds.
Jones also says funds have been set aside by the commissioners to help pay for environmental testing and removal of the roof on the west grandstands so the 2009 events can be held using that facility. He stressed that the commissioners will rely on public support for whatever decision is made regarding the fairgrounds, and he urges all interested community members to attend the public meeting on the 8th.
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