Tammy Dickerson Marshall County Fair 4H Fair Board President and Steve Kromkowski from DLZ appeared before the County Commissioners on Monday to discuss a feasibility study for the 4-H Fair grounds in Argos.
A long range plan committee made up of fair board members has been meeting for years but members have their own separate entity at the fair they believe needs improved.
Commissioner President Kevin Overmyer said, “Last December I went to an executive fair board meeting where there was a discussion about the Marshall County Fair and the grounds.” There have been discussions in the past to move the fair to Plymouth and Overmyer said, “We realized it would be too expensive.”
Overmyer offered to have to commissioners pay for the feasibility study to assist in the project.
Kromkowski said, “The ultimate goal of this study and this report is to meet with the primary users, understand the current operations and the site and discuss possible improvements and look at the big picture.”
The proposal requires DLZ to understand the needs, do a site analysis and conduct an overall feasibility study and master plan for the fair grounds. The finalized report would have graphics, overall site plan, show what the improvements can be, dollar amounts for construction improvements and prioritizing them.
Dickerson said a survey was conducted of the 4H families asking how to improve the fairgrounds. She said there have been comments about a need for a large multipurpose building. That information will be shared with DLZ. She said, “There are a lot of needs at the fairgrounds. The Marshall County 4H program is a hugely successful program.”
Dickerson also commented about the sponsorship program where money has been set aside for building projects but it is sitting because we haven’t made any decisions.
Cost for the feasibility study is not to exceed $10,500 and should be complete by midsummer before this year’s 4H fair.
The commissioners have agreed to assist with funding the project once the fair board signs an interlocal agreement with them.
