Fair Board members question pending demolition plan

By P.J. GLISSON

news@yourdailyglobe.com

Ironwood — With only nine weeks remaining before the Gogebic County Fair, members of the Fair Board are voicing concern about fairground structures that were earmarked for demolition this year.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen,” said Chairman James Byrns, who added that the downstate contractor hired by the Gogebic County Board of Commissioners could show up any day to address the deconstruction.

He conceded that the long winter, more snow than usual and resulting extended road restrictions have been obstacles to addressing the work.

“We’ve got two months to the fair,” said Commissioner Thomas Hampston. “I think they should postpone until after the fair.”

He suggested that the fair board should make an official request for postponement of the demolition, with the understanding that no vulnerable structures will be used meanwhile.

“The only building that absolutely should be addressed is the cattle barn,” said Hampston of immediate concerns.

Byrns said that Paul Luppino, a Wisconsin contractor, already has inspected the cattle barn and that he expects to hear back from him with recommendations.

Hampston also voiced frustration at county commissioners not having met with Fair Board members, as had been expected. “They were supposed to have a meeting with us,” he said.

Instead, he noted that the exhibition building — which was banned from use last year — still has not been addressed.

Expected demolition for this year was aimed at the grandstands, the poultry barn, and a mobile home that had been used for administrative purposes.

Fair Board members also discussed the possibility of using a tent to house this year’s poultry and the likelihood of having to rent grandstand units.

“We’ll have to figure it out, said Byrns, who later added, “It’ll work out one way or another. The show must go on.”

As for the possibility of demolition, Byrns said, “Hopefully, something happens in the next week or so.”

The Fair Board will meet again in 11 days.

In other news, the board also:

—Learned that a contract has been received for the Shotgun Ragtime Band to perform on Aug. 10 at 8 p.m. at a cost of $4,000. The entire cost has been funded by local business donations that were facilitated by Fair Board member Randall Kashich.

—Learned that snowmobile drag races are scheduled for the evening of Aug. 12. Hampston said he will collect the needed $2,000 for that event.

—Learned from Fairground Coordinator Marlene Saari that this year’s Pedal Pull, a children’s event, will cost $1,307 but that a local business has donated a $900 toward the cost.

—Voted to approve the Northern Lights Quilt Guild to donate a quilt provided by a private party to the Friends of the Fair, who then can market the quilt through their own fundraising efforts, as with a raffle. Sue Nezworski, who leads the guild, suggested the action as an alternative to her own guild members raffling off the quilt and donating proceeds to the fair. She said the nonprofit guild should not be raising money for other parties.

—Learned from Saari that the application deadline for a Michigan Spark grant was missed due to scheduling issues between local grant writers and county officials. She said an attempt will be made to meet the next grant deadline.

—Learned from Saari that Gogebic County Clerk Ramona Collins is checking insurance options for the fairgrounds.

—Voted to schedule a one-day flash sale of fair entry tickets. The sale would allow seasonal passes to be sold at $28 instead of the normal $30; and daily passes to be sold at a dollar less than the normal $10 Thursday rate and $12 rate on other days.

—Voted to allot no more than $750 on fair brochures.

—Voted to pay a $150 deposit, as offered by Iron County for the use of its action chair for persons with disabilities at this year’s fair. Usage would be issued on a first-come, first-served basis.

All votes at Monday’s meeting were unanimous with Holly Ramme absent.

The Fair Board’s next regular meeting will be on June 19 at 6 p.m. in the meeting room of the multipurpose building within the fairgrounds.

Normally, the board’s next meeting would have been on July 3, the first Monday of the month, but the date was adjusted because of the area’s many July 4 events. Board members expect to schedule an additional meeting after the holiday period.