The good news for the Allen County Fair Association is that county commissioners heeded last weeks plea and voted to approve a $9,000 increase to the groups annual budget. The bad news is that no one wants to help them fix their hog barn.
On March 6, the committee initiated contractor bids for the repair and improvement of the livestock barn at the fairgrounds. Invitations to apply were sent to 18 separate contractors with the stipulation that bids were to be returned by March 22. As of Tuesday, no one had applied.
In light of this latest whiff, members of the fair association have vowed to reach out personally to contractors in the area and return before the commission next week in hopes of having landed a willing bidder.
Fair Association members Terryl Mueller and Carla Nemecek thanked commissioners for their decision to boost the groups annual operating budget from $11,000 to $20,000.
Commissioners expressed some concern about adding an off-budget expenditure to this years books but agreed that the Allen County Fair is an important and well-regarded feature of the region.
I know that the fair is an essential thing for our county, said Commissioner Bruce Symes, theres no way were not going to have it. We want to do a quality fair. And I like what you guys are doing to look forward to [funding] future fairs. … I appreciate the work that youve done.
IN OTHER NEWS, commissioners accepted bids for area dust control from Overland Parks Scottwood Industries (at a rate of $1.63 per foot to residents); for asphalt oil from Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions (Kansas City, Kan.) and Asphalt & Fuel Supply (Tulsa, Okla.); and, finally, from Chanute-based Hoidale for the replacement of fuel lines and a new sump ($75,000) out at the Allen County Airport.
