Gogebic County commissioners approve new location for fair

By P.J. GLISSON

news@yourdailyglobe.com

Ironwood — The Gogebic County Board of Commissioners voted last week to approve a proposal for this year’s county fair to take place at the Pat O’Donnell Civic Center in Ironwood.

The vote included the board’s commitment to allot $17,500 toward fair expenses, as it routinely has done for past fairs.

The proposal to host the fair at the Civic Center was made by the county Fair Board, which has been searching for a solution to retain this year’s fair ever since the county board voted on Oct. 11 of last year to prevent the 2024 fair and any other major events from occurring on the fairgrounds during this calendar year.

The county’s decision to limit fairground use this year was based on an expectation of pending construction and repairs in relation to a Sept. 26, 2023 fairground fire that occurred in the process of some planned demolition.

“Our main and only concern was liability at the fairgrounds while it’s being rehabbed,” said Commissioner Joseph Bonovetz before last week’s vote.

Commissioner Thomas Laabs asked whether the Fair Board had contacted the city of Ironwood for permission to hold the fair at the Civic Center, since it is located on city land.

Fair Board member Linda Nelson said that City Manager Paul Anderson told her that Civic Center officials were authorized to make any such decisions.

Nelson said that Civic Center officials have reacted positively to the idea of the Fair Board renting Civic Center space, but she added that the center’s board has not yet met for an official vote of approval.

Nelson added, however, that she was told the Civic Center cannot cover insurance during the fair as its officials originally believed.

James Lorenson, who chairs the county commissioners, said that the county’s insurer, the Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority, covers both the county and the city.

Lorenson added that County Prosecuting Attorney Nick Jacobs assured him that hosting the fair in a different location should not be a problem for this one time.

The county chairman did request, however, that the Fair Board provide a budget for the 2024 fair by the end of the month.

During public comment at the March 13 meeting, Donald Martinson of Bessemer also said he wished to commend, on behalf of the community, the work Nelson has done in working toward a solution for this year’s fair. “She has done a phenomenal job of taking lemons and making lemonade,” he said.

Fair Board member Melinda Kostak also thanked commissioners for their support and welcomed any other help or ideas.