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Fairgrounds grant funded plan stallsBy Pat Hammert/Staff Writer Supporting a grant application for a fairgrounds exhibit building was put on temporary hold after commissioners heard a presentation from the county fair board last week. The fair board has asked commissioners for their approval to apply for a $150,000 community development block grant from the state Department of Commerce that would furnish seed money to address exhibit overcrowding during the annual county fair. Some exhibits at last summer’s fair were omitted because of lack of space. The fair has refused to continue using the Jenks Simmons Field House as an exhibit hall because of the lack of air conditioning. Commissioner Don Young was not agreeable to the idea, saying other high-ticket needs of the county conflict, such as additional jail space. The fair board proposes an exhibit building in the $750,000 range, built on recently purchased property from the Richey family for future fairgrounds expansion on East Foreman Road. The issue was tabled for further study. Last year, the fair board proposed building a multimillion-dollar all-purpose facility and arena on county-owned land between Yukon and El Reno. It is a proposition that would have to be paid from a county sales tax increase. Commissioner Phil Carson said those plans have yet to materialize, but if and when they ever do, the project would more likely get support from county voters on the east side of the county because of the more central location. Carson said an additional proposition is in the wind: a sports complex that includes a multi-purpose center in an El Reno city-school partnership — on property adjacent to the fairgrounds. ReplyRecent IssuesSpecial Sections |
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