Now
Mostly Cloudy and Breezy
35°
High
36°
Low
13°
Full Forecast

Jobs

Cars

Homes

Rentals

Alerts

Subscribe
Home > News > Politics
Bookmark Us   •   Make Us Your Homepage

Legislative panel hears fair proposals

Comments 34 comment(s)  
E-mail Story E-mail Story
Print Story Print Story
Share  Share
Text Size: 
Tools Sponsor

BY ART HOVEY / Lincoln Journal Star

Tuesday, Feb 26, 2008 - 09:47:05 pm CST



In December, Phil Erdman warned those with differing plans for State Fair Park to make every effort to reach an agreement on their own.

Otherwise, the chairman of the Legislature’s Agriculture Committee said, state lawmakers might act on their own and produce a result that nobody likes.

Story Photo

Related Media

State Fair proposal: Lancaster Event Center w/ flood plain

These plans show what the State Fair might look like if relocated to Lancaster Event Center. It also shows flood-prone areas around the event center...

Comments: 0
Rated:

State Fair proposal: Lancaster Event Center

These plans show what the State Fair might look like if relocated to the Lancaster Event Center. (Courtesy of the State Fair Board) ...

Comments: 0
Rated:

State Fair proposal: State Fair Park

These plans show what the State Fair might look like if it stays at State Fair Park. (Courtesy of the State Fair Board) ...

Comments: 0
Rated:

State Fair proposal: Grand Island

These plans show what the State Fair might look like if relocated to Fonner Park in Grand Island. (Courtesy of the State Fair Board)...

Comments: 0
Rated:
 Lancaster Event Center
84th and Havelock		Grand Island
Fonner Park		State Fair Park
Indoor Multipurpose Center (7,500 seats)$35 million  
Arena/Grandstand (non-equine)  $1.2 million
Exhibition buildings$13.2 million$17.6 million$158 million
Livestock buildings$11 million$15.2 million$4.6 million
Equine (stalls/racing)$4.2 million$10.5 million$1.9 million
Administration building  $350,000
Maintenance building  $1 million
Site features/parking$1 million$1 million$1.55 million
Events lawn  $250,000
Midway$3.25 million$3.25 million$1.1 million
RV campgrounds$2.25 million$3.75 million$200,000
Racetrack/clubhouse
(Friends of Innovation Park)		$24.2 million ?
Site  $2 million
Moving costs$300,000$600,000 
Total cost comparison$94.4 million$51.9 million$29.95 million+

As of Tuesday, Erdman’s advice still looked to be very much in vogue. A marathon hearing in front of the agricultural panel and a standing-room-only audience showed no signs of a consensus taking shape.

Instead, the University of Nebraska and a coalition of Lincoln business and civic leaders continued to argue strongly for turning the 251-acre parcel into a research park and moving the fair several miles east to the area of the Lancaster Event Center.

Grand Island upped the ante on its offer to host the fair at Fonner Park by committing to a $75 million price tag. That’s not to say the revenue sources are nailed down.

Rather than stepping forward for a symbolic handshake with the technology-park team, those testifying on behalf of the Nebraska State Fair Board raised new questions about how much of the land adjacent to the event center was prone to flooding.

Halfway through the 2008 legislative session, the distance between negotiating positions among Lincoln interests might have looked more familiar in divorce court.

Despite that, Erdman said making a decision this year is crucial to the future of the fair and to the university’s competing plan.

“By not doing that this session, we’ll start that debate all over again next year and the year after that and the year after that,” he said.

State Sen. Ron Raikes of Lincoln voiced agreement as he put forward his timetable for moving the fair out of State Fair Park no later than 2012 and handing the keys to the university. “The Legislature can best serve by arriving at a decision,” Raikes said.

But as the hearing reached the three-hour mark, still a long way from its end, and as the university completed testimony on its State Fair Park vision, Erdman sounded a softer note about the Legislature’s landlord responsibilities.

“We’ve been asked to choose as parents, essentially between two of our children.”

Perhaps the biggest developments of the day were the financial details Grand Island attached to its proposal and the questions raised by both the fair leadership and Erdman about the effect drainage might have on potential development in the event center area at 84th Street and Havelock Avenue.

Don Dunn of the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce offered a slide presentation that showed near-term plans for a 100,000-square-foot livestock facility, an exhibition building of similar size and two 67,500-square-foot horse barns near the Fonner Park race track.

Dunn said that and other improvements would provide “a campus feel” in a $75 million package, $35 million of it represented as the value of the Heartland Event Center already in use in the center of the complex.

“If the State Fair moves, it needs to move to Grand Island, Nebraska,” Dunn said. Referencing a competing proposal from Lincoln promoters of the Lancaster Event Center areas, he said “they have no proposal for anything like the Heartland Event Center.”

In breaking down potential revenue sources, he cited $30 million from the sale of State Fair Park, $5 million from local sources, $5 million from the state fair and $5 million from the Legislature.

“We have a budget for $45 million here,” Dunn said. However, he said, Grand Island could get the job done without the $5 million from the state.

State Fair leaders produced their own estimate for the cost of moving the fair to Grand Island. Their number was $51.9 million.

Lincoln businessman Tonn Ostergard, who helped lay out the Lancaster Event Center option later in the hearing, stayed with a financial package that calls for about $30 million in bonding by the fair board, $6 million in donations from the 2015 Vision group, $15.8 million from the University of Nebraska Foundation and $10.5 million from the university.

The UNL contribution could come from the sale of land it owns west of 84th Street near the event center.

Ostergard, University of Nebraska President J.B. Milliken and others said turning State Fair Park into a university technology showcase represented the highest and best use of the property.

They also pointed to the higher population concentration in Lincoln as a reason to keep the fair where it has been for the past 106 years.

Ostergard disputed the assertions of state fair leaders that the east Lincoln option was too expensive.

“It’s not a cost to relocate the fair, but an investment in the state that provides a win-win situation,” he said.

Milliken made a similar point. “We need to take steps to leverage our growth and leverage our talent for the economy of the state of Nebraska,” he said.

Tam Allan, who provided much of the fair board’s testimony, tried to sound agreeable to compromise. “I honestly think everybody is trying to figure out what would be a win-win for the state,” Allan said.

But he said cost estimates suggest that keeping the fair where it is or moving to Grand Island seemed the cheapest ways to go. “I would say at this time, if we relocate to the Grand Island site, it has more of the things that would make it compatible to be there.”

Despite lengthy dialogue with state fair officials, Ostergard said his group favors a Raikes strategy that would have a six-member commission preside over finding a new home for the fair.

That would lead to a decision that could be made “without emotion and without sentimentality.”

Building from scratch makes sense, he said. Those who want a successful fair should not “patch up inefficient and old buildings.”

Allan raised concerns about a city map that showed that much of the land near the event center was either in the floodplain or the floodway, meaning water was likely to flow through it during a major precipitation event.

Kent Seacrest, part of the Lincoln presentation team, said dirt could be moved to take care of the biggest drainage problems.

Beyond that, “floodplains are wonderful places for parking lots, open space and a midway,” Seacrest said.

Allan sounded unpersuaded.

When it comes to hosting a horse-racing season, under event center limitations, using horses known as “mudders” might not be good enough, he said. “I think we would need swimmers at this location.”

Reach Art Hovey at 473-7223 or at ahovey@journalstar.com.


$1 Sunday Delivery - Subscribe Today!
Politics > Back to Top of Story

Post Your Comment

Standards and Rules
All posts to JournalStar.com are subject to our Terms and Standards.
Your posted comment will appear after it has been approved.
Frequently asked questions about story commenting.
(optional)
   
Hide Comments Hide Comments   Newest First Newest First  
Robert M. Romanovich wrote on February 26, 2008 5:25 pm:
" I thought we had all agreed that the ideal site would be in Columbus since it is centrally located and nearer Omaha, Lincoln, Norfolk, South Sioux City, etc. "

 One Out In The Third wrote on February 26, 2008 5:28 pm:
" Grand Island's plan appears to give up a majority of Fonner's parking space to add the fair grounds. Where are the people going to park? In the ditches along the perimeter roads or maybe in the Skagway parking lot? I hope Nebraskans are ready to pay big bucks for the move. GI's taxpayers can't afford to host it let alone build it. It's time to face the reality of the cost in these supposed austere times and downturn in the economy. Wake up Governor Heineman and Unicameral. I get it...we will use the tax reserve to move the fair rather than fix our deteriorating roads and bridges. "

 Sam wrote on February 26, 2008 6:07 pm:
" Leave the Nebraska State Fair where it is. UNL can use east campus "

 Jeff wrote on February 26, 2008 7:07 pm:
" If the Lancaster County Board and the State Fair Board can't figure out how to coexist - then send it to Grand Island. "

 UNL Bad wrote on February 26, 2008 7:16 pm:
" UNL won't be getting any money from me for this move or for anything else. I won't support a bully like this.

If the fair moves to Grand Island, the fair will die and Lincoln will suffer. It's ludicrous that this is even an issue.

And what happens to horse racing in Lincoln if the State Fair moves? That's hundreds of jobs in Lincoln and revenue that is lost if racing isn't here any longer. It would be a very sad day indeed to have all of the summer traditions associated with State Fair park go away in the blink of an eye because the bullies at UNL and the 2015 group had to have their way.

Those complaining about the lack of negotiation on the State Fair's part should look in the mirror. There is absolutely no reason that this is the only land that could be used by the University. There is a lot of land that is close to city campus that could be used for this project - most likely that will just go to additional athletic facilities. The University is only thinking of its own interests - don't believe it when it talks about how great this will be for the State. If it's not good for UNL then they wouldn't push for it - the state's interests are absolutely second or third to people like Perlman and J.B. "

 State Citizen wrote on February 26, 2008 9:00 pm:
" The state fair, as a grand event, has runs its course. To invest large amounts of money in it at any of the locations is a sentimental expenditure. We should concentrate on a modest fair. Husker Harvest Days and the Fair should combine. If that doesn't fly, how about putting the fair next to the new arena that Lincoln will get shoved down their collective throats? It would save the cost of a building, parking would be available, and it would make extra use of the arena. It would make better use of an excessive grand scheme (a/k/a arena) and could be done on the cheap. It could cut Lincoln's cost down to the amount proposed by the group trying to move it off of its current location. Everyone would be a winner. The sentimentalists would get a nice fair, UNL would get research land, & the current eye sore would eventually be cleaned up. Think about it.... "

 john wrote on February 26, 2008 9:02 pm:
" I wish more regular folks would have had the chance today to testify before the hearing today. The 2015 group in all their guises showed up in force.
It seemed to me that if UNL and the 2015 group don't get their way , they are going to take their ball and go home. Buy the way , who is going to pay for the increased fire protection for this project if it moves forward? Not the state or UNL. You got it the City of Lincoln.
If research pays with good jobs, then tell me were are the safer barriers being built? Not in Nebraska. "

 Bill Lawson wrote on February 26, 2008 9:03 pm:
" Thank goodness,,,no more loud car racing. "

 Franklin F. Fleskoski wrote on February 26, 2008 9:36 pm:
" I'm sure it was voted and agreed upon to be along the interstate as far from Columbus as possible, like in GI. This is the best location for an AG related fair, and UNL can have their much deserved land. Let's quit messing around and go with what we REALLY agreed on. "

 TSG wrote on February 26, 2008 9:51 pm:
" after looking at the plans from above, i would have to say the lancaster event center will work the best "

 Jo Jo wrote on February 26, 2008 9:54 pm:
" To "UNL Bad", sorry to hear that you feel the way that you do. While you may not like UNL, it is not BAD. It provide a heck of a lot more jobs than horse racing. Horse racing is outdated, too. If it goes away, no big loss. If we want to waste our money on gambling, lets make the fairgrounds into a casino. Now that is a money maker (and a hidden tax for the fools who play). It would keep the money here instead of at the Iowa CaSINos. We could get full blown gambling into the fairgrounds which would support a much better fair. "

 Yes Bill wrote on February 26, 2008 10:26 pm:
" What about getting rid of the Music, Bright Lights, Cows mooing and the out staters that come in to Lincoln and spend their money? "

 Ricky wrote on February 26, 2008 10:55 pm:
" I prefer giving Grand Island a shot at the State Fair.
I think they would do a great job with the Fair.
But what struck me in this article was Lincolns proposal which lists "15.8 million from the University of Nebraska Foundation". I thought this foundation got its money from a lot more sources than those based in Lincoln. Did the foundation take a poll amoungst those who gave and ask them if they wanted the fair to remain in Lincoln.
I admit I don't know much about this foundation. Are they the same people that gave money to oust Steve Pederson? If so then their judgement must be questioned.
Go State Fair To GI!

Ricky From Omaha "

 Fair fan wrote on February 26, 2008 11:02 pm:
" Lincoln's going down the drain fast, and moving the state fair anywhere will just hurry it along. Since Lincoln is so full of rich people, I say let Lincoln pay for the entire price for moving the state fair to somewhere other than Lincoln. Nebraska citizens don't seem to have a say in this process, so let Lincoln pay. Heck, just raise your property tax some more. Also, how much fun is it going to be to have everyone trying to get in and look at exhibits in one big building. And in case of fire, there won't be enough exits to handle the thousands of people in one building. And of course, where ever they build it, they will have to pave hundreds of acres of land, because you have to make it handicapped accessible (which the present state fair is and the Lancaster Event Center is not). With more young fathers coming home from the war missing legs etc you HAVE to have it paved so they can spend time with their young families enjoying family entertainment. Lincoln, get ready to pay big. "

 Motorsports Fans wrote on February 27, 2008 12:25 am:
" Many state fair grounds have motorsports tied to their fairgrounds because it has made economic sense. Racing events, car shows, motorcross, tractor pulling and other attractions can provide events throughout the year to support the facility. The new fair grounds should be built from the ground up, remain in Lancaster County which is the capital of the city and definitely include motorsports tracks including a Drag Strip and circle track. Event organizers could schedule events throughout the year to support the facility. The State Fairgrounds has succesfully hosted car events such as Americruise and will host the Hotrod Powertour in June which will attract thousands of visitors. In March, over 20,000 people will attend the Big Lincoln swap meet with free entry to support the Lincoln Food Bank. Get the picture, create a cool facility and cool events will come to benefit all of us. Lets learn a lesson from our neighbors in Kansas who's motorsports facilities such as the Kansas Speedway and Heartland Park Topeka attract thousands of visitors yearly and promote Nebraska. Tourism helps support Nebraska, lets create a all new State Fairgrounds that will benefit all Nebraskans and more importantly bring out of state tourism dollars to our state. "

 Joe wrote on February 27, 2008 1:31 am:
" Several observations of the State Fair-UNL hearings:

Senator Erdman attempted to hold an informative hearing and his comments were much appreciated; however, as happened last December, the organized groups were given more time to testify with their redundant presentations than were the ordinary "Joes." The State Fair board was not convincing with its plan to renovate the existing fairgrounds. More emphasis seemed to be placed on finding flaws with the 84th Street location than with selling the merits of its own plan. In fact, it was difficult to determine whether Tam Allan was testifying for the State Fair board or for the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce. It was very apparent that a rift still exists between the State Fair board and the Lancaster Event Center board, and perhaps with Lincoln leaders in general. Although I do not agree with all the provisions of Sen. Raikes bill, his proposal of an independent commission to look at this situation objectively with an open mind, is looking better and better. This decision is too important to be made using "old wounds" and "revenge factors" as objective criteria. With all due respect to the Grand Island people, many will agree that moving the fair out of Lincoln to Grand Island will not allow the fair to prosper, but will be only an add-on to the Fonner Park facilities. You can have all of the greatest facilities on hand, but you still need to have people in attendance to succeed. Any Lincoln site would provide a greater chance of success for the fair than other sites away from the population centers, from which the attendance is drawn. The fair should not be strictly agricultural, as is espoused by the GI individuals, but rather a gathering of Rural and Urban visitors to be educated and entertained at the same time. The fair's vision should include the slogan "Nebraska State Fair, where City and Country come together to learn and play". As I said previously, just my observations. Good luck Senator Erdman!
"

 ENOUGH ALREADY!!!! wrote on February 27, 2008 5:02 am:
" Folks......anyone with ANY sense knows and fully understands that this is a done deal. Over, finished, out!!!!! The State Fair IS going to move. No question about it. I cannot understand what all these "hearings" and "discussions" are all about. It's just a ploy to TRY and make it look like everyone is getting their say. And that's a CROCK. We all know that the mighty UNL has spoken. And, along with the 2015 "vision" group they get what they want.

Say goodbye to the fair in it's present location. The, in a VERY few years, say goodbye to the fair period. As it will surely die a slow death. "

 Laurie wrote on February 27, 2008 5:27 am:
" You have to admit, in recent years the fair has been pretty lame. Attractions are increasingly stupid, displays are less informative and interactive and mostly cheap plastic and dubious services are for sale. If moved to the Event Center, it will still be all of these, but will be taking place in a treeless dirthole as opposed to a reasonably pleasant park. Let Grand Island have it. They WANT it. They're excited about it. Lincoln doesn't really want the Fair, they just want the money.

"

 mitchy_v wrote on February 27, 2008 7:19 am:
" GI has a plan, Lincoln doesn't. Let GI have it. "

 Bill wrote on February 27, 2008 7:30 am:
" Where are all these jobs the Fair creates? They're carnies, the traveling carnival workers. Horseracing? They come with the horses. Lincoln just wants the money? Lincoln pays millions to keep the Fair in the black. Say Goodbye to the Fair. Sell the land to the highest bidder and get it over with. "

 Dar wrote on February 27, 2008 8:13 am:
" The fair needs to stay in Lincoln, it isn't just a matter of tradition. What I would like to know is, are we always going to give in to the University? We might as well turn downtown, north and east of downtown, gate it all in, and call it all the City of UNL. If the city officials would for once start listening to ALL of the people, and fairly represent them as a whole, then would we always kow tow the the U? "

 Hattie wrote on February 27, 2008 8:31 am:
" Who would not want to pay 35million for this. What a bargin for the University. This present and BEST site is worth at least 150 Million to Lincoln's Economy. I do not believe that the University will have the same 150 Million impact. DON"T MOVE. "

 Ghost wrote on February 27, 2008 8:48 am:
" I think that if the State Fair moves to Grand Island it will be a big mistake. Yes, it may be the cheapest, but it will financially fail because of lack of attendance, thus lack of finances. "

 Nic F wrote on February 27, 2008 9:10 am:
" The fair has not been relevant for quite some time. You ever wonder how the Iowa State fair pulls in over a million people each year? They've stayed relevant to culture over the years. People have invested in the Iowa state fair. The Nebraska state fair has not seen substantial investment for well over a decade. It's exactly the same as it was fifteen years ago when I was a kid. Nebraska State fair can't even get 1/4 the attendance that the Iowa State Fair gets. The fair is dieing, face the facts. The only thing saving the fair right now is the extra $2,000,000 a year that voters decided to give them out of lottery winnings. Without this money, they fair would be about 5-6 million in debt. Let it die or let it move. The amount of jobs that would be brought in by UNL would boost the economy in Lincoln a lot more then the fair does. The fair doesn't even offer that many jobs, especially compared to a huge research park. I personally vote for UNL to get it's way this time. Let's see what they can do with the land, because the fair really isn't doing a whole lot with it in it's current condition. "

 Shaking my head wrote on February 27, 2008 9:10 am:
" I agree with "Enough Already". What your seeing is a
bunch of hot air, UNL wants the ground and they'll get it. Bringing income into Lincoln, thats a CROCK too.
Raising your property taxes more, you can bank on that. All you have to do is look at Nebr. & Lincoln it keeps
going down down down, & has the greatest national reputation of "stay away from there" and the reputation
just keeps building. How many of the older and maybe
the younger people are going to drive to G.I. with gas
$4.00 plus a gallon???? Not me, I'll continue to go to
the nice clean fairs in Iowa and Indiana, where they've
had pride for years and years of keeping up and building
their state fairs and don't tax their citizens to death
doing it, because they have hundreds of thousands of
attendees from all over the country. Yep, there are states that do things FOR their citizens, something
Nebr. knows nothing about. All they know is a daily
dose of "gotta raise property taxes", "gotta raise
property taxes." Ya almost don't want to get out of
bed of a morning, because thats the daily news!!!! Yet
the KY Gov. at the conference in D.C. said they voted on important things concerning the Fed. wanting to take
more money away from the states. So where was Nebr Gov?
Yep rocking in his big Nebr. chair saving the Nebr.
citizens a couple hundred dollars by not going to the
Gov. conference!!!! Try that at you job at a corporation and you'd be out sitting on the curb!!!!!
"

 Meredith wrote on February 27, 2008 9:24 am:
" Motorsports and animal shows aren't a great mix. Try having your horse hooked up to a carriage during the car races or tractor pull. You see your life flash before your eyes. Lincoln needs a good multi-purpose facility that can be used year round. The Lancaster County Event Center is a good start, but needs further expansion/ growth. Putting the State Fair out there makes a whole lot of sense, but if these adults and government bodies can't work and play together, than let them go to Grand Island and work with Fonner Park. We don't need a brand new site that would just compete and pull away from the other two venues. I am so tired of watching these entities be unable to work together. A smaller fair but with higher quality may be the right move for Nebraska. "

 Vicki wrote on February 27, 2008 9:37 am:
" 2015 doesn't like where the fair is at right now but they don't want to give up the tax revenue generated by the fair. Sounds like someone wants their cake and to eat it too. Of course, 2015 doesn't want UNL to have to pay for moving the fair, but happily they continue to throw out financing options that largely rest on funding sources that aren't theirs OR UNL's to sell/give away. I can't imagine that it is a good use of foundation dollars to move the fair. Besides, all of this to get the fair as a technology park, but I thought that a majority of the research dollars that come into UNL actually are attributable to East Campus progrmams. So, presumably we'll invest in a Taj Majal for the paltry research interests while the bulk of the research (and research dollars) continues to be on East Campus in existing facilities and structures that have been developed to house and support those very interests.

Pearlman also seems to be knocking on the door of retirement and conveniently won't be around to see (or be accountable for) this disaster when it all comes to pass. "

 mitchy_v wrote on February 27, 2008 10:32 am:
" You say the fair will fail in GI. Lincoln hasn't done a very good job lately. Give someone who want the fair, not just the money a shot. "

 Miguel Rodgriguez wrote on February 27, 2008 11:59 am:
" This is why I moved out of Lincoln 24 years ago. Because Lincoln is a college town. It is not a city. It exists for the university and those who get rich off of the university. Harvey & the 2015. Get it? Its a sleepy little college town where the powers that be rule everything. Lincoln should lose the capitol as well. Just let it remain with the university and all of those creepy big red fans. In three years, there won't be more than 15,000 people living there. What a joke. You wonder why I drink. "

 New Fair Board wrote on February 27, 2008 12:17 pm:
" is what we need. In with the new for a fresh start if these people can't cooperate with the Lancaster Co. people. The reason the Fair is a dying has-been thing is because of the inaction of the Fair Board over the years to update the Fair. Nothing has happened with updating the facilities, events, activities for probably the past 40 years. If someone out their has a factual disagreement with me, prove it. The only thing they've done is ask for lottery money to keep afloat. Sweep everyone out, give UNL the land, and start over.

BTW, to the old whiners out there, with UNL, Lincoln is NOTHING! "

 JR wrote on February 27, 2008 7:45 pm:
" Wow, can you believe some of this rhetoric being bantied about by the fair supporters? Will someone please tell me why the fair should stay put? It is obviously not a well organized event. It draws dismal crowds at best. And it only occupies the land for a few short days a year. I would think with all the maintenance and up keep of the old buildings, you would want to start fresh. "

 Ignored Fair Exhibitor wrote on February 27, 2008 10:51 pm:
" Being a State Fair exhibitor in the open class and 4-H areas for the past 25 years, I find it very sad that there has to be a battle between two very important historical institutions. For over 100 years both UNL and the State Fair have been able to coexist and grow in Lincoln. However, because of a few individuals who want to make a name for themselves for the "good" of the state, the thousands of long time fair exhibitors, vendors, and visitors have to endure all the needless discussions. How many of the 2015 group have attended or experienced the fair? Do they realize the State Fair is just as educational and vital to Nebraskans? The fair is held in Lincoln so that the urban and rural individuals can learn from each other. By thinking of moving the fair to the relatively "rural" city of Grand Island and proposing an agricultural fair, defeats the purpose of a State Fair. If Grand Island wants to create their agricultural fair, why doesn't it already do so through Husker Harvest Days, which isn't even held at the so called "wonderful" Fonner Park. I hope that Sen. Erdman, the Agriculture Committee and the State Fair Board realize that the best and most logical, economical decision is to leave the State Fair at State Fair Park in Lincoln for continued support and success by long time fair exhibitors, vendors and visitors as well as benefiting all Nebraskans through education and experience. Those of us who have actively participated in the State Fair for so many years should have a part in the discussion concerning our fair. So far, no one has asked for our opinions. "

 Attended Hearing wrote on February 28, 2008 10:16 am:
" I attended the hearings on Tuesday, February 26th. The room was packed. The 3 sides presented long talks about the Grand Island Site, the 84th Street site, and the current State Fairgrounds. The most optimal solution is to keep the Fair at the current site. Research the numbers. If the University wants the Fairgrounds so badly then come up with the money. So far they have not. I agree that the Fair will go down hill fast if it is moved to Grand Island. They do not have enough people there. At the testimony yesterday, the University team said it was not their idea to move the Fair. I would like to know whose idea was it to move the Fair and what was their real motive? I suspect it is the big developers in Lincoln who think they can get the Fairgrounds for free to make tons of money on it. It saddens me to the core that these people are so greedy that they do not even care about the State Fair. I also submit that there is no guarantee that private businesses will come to Lincoln because of this research park. What businesses have come to Lincoln lately? Lincoln has even lost Gallup to Omaha. The taxes in Nebraska are already about as high as any other state. We cannot afford to move the Fair. The University can build their Research Park on land they already possess. But if they force the Fair out the $30 million price tag is not near enough to move the Fair. Senator Erdman pointed out that the Fairgrounds are insured for $60 million, so I would think the value should be at least $60 million. The University does not even want to pay the $30 million. The president of the Farmers Union spoke and said that they polled their member’s state wide twice and the overwhelming majority said keep the Fair where it is and fix it up. Some writers here said the Fair has not been kept up. Just so you know, all nearby states help fund their State Fairs. Our State Fair has not received much if any support from our State. It is not the Fair Boards fault. If they were given help to fix the buildings they would be fine. I would also say that virtually all the common people who testified who were not representing some organization, said keep the Fair where it is. The State Fair Board estimated that it would take $94.4 million to go to the 84th Street site, that it would take $51.9 million to go to Grand Island, and $29.9 million to stay where they are. Again these numbers support keeping the Fair at its present site. I hope that the Senators will realize this. Several that testified said, Recall that the majority of Nebraskans already have voted to provide 10% of the Lottery proceeds to the Fair. This was voted on assuming the Fair would stay at its present site. The Senators should remember this. There are also some historic buildings at the current Fairgrounds that need to be preserved. This part of the Fair cannot be moved. Most neighboring State Fairs have been at their location for over 100 years and have many historic buildings. I say keep the Fair at its present site. "

 One Out In The Third wrote on February 28, 2008 5:16 pm:
" I have been to the mountain and I have seen the Light!!! We want the State Fair in GI. It's only going to cost the GI taxpayers 5 million...and the rest of the state kicks in another 46M. GI/Fonner Park enhances their facility on the backs of all of Nebraska's taxpayers...another 5 years...the State Fair folds and Fonner Park is left with all these wonderful facilities...thanks to taxpayers from Harrison to Peru.
Of course what they will do with all these gleaming new buildings after the Fair folds is yet to be seen but who cares...we will have a great County Fair Facility.

Thanks Lincoln...Thanks Omaha...Thanks Nebraska!
Amen...Over and Out. "

Ads by Yahoo!