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$110 million state fair plan a non-starter

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Thursday, Mar 27, 2008 - 12:35:11 am CDT

If the half-baked, $110 million plan for moving the state fair is all that the city of Lincoln has to show for hiring lobbyist Kermit Brashear, then taxpayers didn’t get much for their money.

The plan was more than dead on arrival. It was never alive in the beginning.

As outlined by Brashear and Mayor Chris Beutler, the proposal would have included $10 million from the city of Lincoln, $30 million from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, a $40 million bond guaranteed by the NU Foundation and a $30 million revenue bond to be paid from proceeds of developing State Fair Park into a university research campus.

Trouble is, the major participants not only had not agreed to the plan, they took a dim view of it.

* “We did not have any dialogue, and we would not backstop a bond issue,” said Terry Fairfield, president and CEO of the NU Foundation.

* UNL Chancellor Harvey Perlman said UNL is in no position to supply $30 million for the plan.

* City Councilwoman Robin Eschliman said she was not ready to commit to spending $10 million in city funds, although she would listen. “It’s quite a price tag, isn’t it?” she said.

Some council members were surprised to hear last week that Beutler had hired Brashear at a cost not to exceed $15,000 to lobby the Legislature to keep the fair in Lincoln. The legislative session is scheduled to end April 15.

Meanwhile, various indicators point to the fair moving to Fonner Park in Grand Island. Those in attendance at a meeting of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry this week in Lincoln said that Gov. Dave Heineman told the group that the state fair train has left the Lincoln station.

If that’s the case, the move will be against the advice of the consultant hired by the Agricultural Committee. The firm of HOK Smith Forkner recommended “a minimum population of 300,000 within 30 miles.” Grand Island doesn’t even come close.

The move also would be against the wishes of the Nebraska Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association because it would leave horse racing without a track in Lincoln.

There are so many logical reasons that favor the 84th and Holdrege site over Grand Island that one can only conclude that a decision to move the fair to Grand Island would be based on non-rational considerations. It would mean the State Fair Board’s vision is for a state fair that is a shadow of what it is now and what it could be at grounds shared with the Lancaster Event Center.

In any case, throwing out hastily conceived, unrealistic alternatives for keeping the fair in Lincoln do little to improve the decision-making process. If Beutler and Brashear want “to get the State Fair Board talking to parties in Lincoln,” as the mayor put it, they need come up with something that has substance.


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Dead Wrong wrote on March 27, 2008 5:25 am:
" The editorial board got this one dead wrong. At least Lincoln is trying. Nice support for your city trying to
save the fair. The bigger question is why the Governor put the City of Lincoln in the middle between two state entities....the University and the Fair. Because it was a decision he didn't want to make? "

 Ricky wrote on March 27, 2008 7:12 am:
" Beutler and Brashear were on the opposite sides in the big dust-up involving the impeachment of Brashears good buddy David Hergert. Somehow that did not stop the Mayor from throwing tax money away with the hiring of Brashear.
Is there not a law which says former pols can not lobby their former pols? (there should be).
Sorry Lincoln, G I is getting the Fair, even if it is not within close proximity to a large city. (you are searching Editorial Board - that makes no difference in Nebraska).

Ricky From Omaha "

 Hjalmer wrote on March 27, 2008 7:13 am:
" It's pretty clear to me Lincoln doesn't want the fair. They're making a token effort to keep it so they can say they did. Lincoln has made a strategic decision to cast their lot with the future. There's not enough money in Lincoln to do both the Research Park and a quality State Fair and they've chosen the Research Park as the entity that can provide jobs and growth. State Fairs are doomed by en ever more urban, older society. The term "farm kids" is becoming a historical reference like "one-room-country -school". Having a 4H steer instead of volleyball or soccer practice isn't the choice the teenagers of tomorrow will make. "

 wonder wrote on March 27, 2008 7:26 am:
" This situation makes one wonder if the Mayor wasn't "dead on arrivel" to his office. He supposedly didn't realize all the paperwork required of his position thus he has push it off on others. But mark my word if something goes wrong with one of these he will not take the blame. He is constantly hiring his buddies is that because he doesn't trust others in City Hall and because he thinks they have the answers. By not talking to council, NU , Ag society just shows arrogance and stupidity on his part. "

 Dave wrote on March 27, 2008 8:41 am:
" Keep the fair where it is for now. I cannot afford any more. The economy is on the down slide, just let this thing go until it makes sense for all parties concerned. "

 mitchy_v wrote on March 27, 2008 8:59 am:
" Lincoln isn't even trying. They want the R&D park. HOK gave the answer they were paid to give. They now nothing about western nebraska! "

 Against the Move wrote on March 27, 2008 9:11 am:
" What ever happened to the Governor saying that no tax dollars would be used to move the fair. It sounds as though the people involved (legislation, 2015 Vision Group, and UNL think the people of Nebraska are dumb because they keep throwing out talk about bond issues. Isn't that tax dollars? I say keep it where its at and let UNL find someplace else. They have lots of ground through the city. Otherwise, move it to Grand Island where it will be appreciated!!!

"

 Mrs. Johnson wrote on March 27, 2008 9:22 am:
" Keep the fair in Lincoln BUT don't move it out to those tin sheds sitting in the flood plain on 84th street! And the mayor should stop providing welfare for his old state house friends. "

 Jasper wrote on March 27, 2008 11:30 am:
" Grand Island is much more ag oriented than Lincoln ever was. They deserve the fair, and they have the experience and expertise to pull it off. Just look what they do for Husker Harvest Days. I'll bet you'd see more of us from western Nebraska (and west means North Platte, not exit 397 to Lincoln/Omaha folk) attend the fair if it was in GI. Good luck, GI... western Nebraska is pulling for you! "

 Western Nebraska? wrote on March 27, 2008 12:54 pm:
" I have to laugh when people in Lincoln/Omaha think GI is "Western Nebraska"? LOL "

 Jeff wrote on March 27, 2008 7:40 pm:
" A "smaller" fair in Grand Island doesn't mean it would be less of a fair. Smaller could be better, especially in a State that doesn't value the fair enough to make an investment in it. It should go out to 84th street - but since no one in Lincoln really cares enough about spending the money it needs - let it go to Grand Island. "

 whatever wrote on March 27, 2008 8:26 pm:
" Many Nebraskan's go to the Iowa State Fair. I know some that make a it a 2 to 3 day event. Why? If fairs are passe' then why would Nebraskans make the trip? No 84th and O, if the JS, Vision 2015 and all the other yahoos in Lincoln can't come up with a real plan then let Grand Island have it. I can assure you in 5 to 10 years Lincoln will regret it's lack of "vision". Up next say bye bye to State Basketball. The Omaha Metro area will so dominate the NSAA in less than 10 years that Lincoln will have little to show for "state events". "

 dewboy wrote on March 27, 2008 9:27 pm:
" The problem is the whole deal has back fired on the city of lincoln and the 2015 vision group because they figured that there would be no opposition to moving the fair to 84th street and they guessed wrong. One does not have to be a CPA to figure out how much money the fair brought into Lincoln. Rest assured good old NU will get what it wants. Probably without paying anything for the land also. "

 Shane wrote on March 27, 2008 10:47 pm:
" I am not sure what people think the Mayor can do. The 84th and Havelock site is not an option because the Ag Society and State Fair Boards WILL NOT even try to work together. While I understand the premise that an Inovation Park will bring in money while the State Fair needs a subsidy, this all could have been avoided. IF the 2015 group had included the State Fair Board in their inital discussion perhaps the State Fair Board would not have their nose out of joint now.

It will go to Grand Island and become a glorified county fair or an adjunct to Husker Harvest Days. Good luke making that work "

 amusing wrote on March 27, 2008 11:11 pm:
" I find all of this amusing and sad and pathetic. The University is a bully trying to show its muscle. The city is trying to bend over backward for the U, assuming all the while no one will let the state fair move. It's a foregone conclusion the U will win this battle. I would hate to see the fair go to GI, but I have to say that I'm always for the underdog and if it is between 84th street and GI, I'd vote for GI...Lincoln deserves for GI to get it and as a two time graduate of UNL, I'm through supporting the institution with any gifts. "

 Joe wrote on March 28, 2008 1:12 am:
" This editorial is dead right and is one of the most factual pieces I have read concerning this issue for quite some time. Forget all the rhetoric and innuendo and study the facts. It is not acceptable for the fair to be scaled down to fit Grand Island and its small population base. It belongs in Lincoln and Lincoln interests need to pursue it vigorously.

As a side note, other than some postings by Dan, what about the wishes of the 400,000 plus voters who chose to sllow lottery money to fix the fair? Was that a vote to move the fair out of Lincoln? I think not. Will this issue be addressed by the legislature or other groups? It certainly seems fair to assume that to move the fair out of Lincoln would break the implied contract which the voters approved, and if this move happens, the voters should have an opportunity to decide if sending the lottery funds to Grand Island is the best use of those funds. Come on all you legal eagles. There must be someone out there who can tell us how to get this on the ballot. Or maybe the Journal Star can do some research on this topic for us ...the avereage Joes. You sure did a ggod job with this editorial. Keep up the good work! "

 abbylove wrote on April 3, 2008 8:00 am:
" This is so obvious--why would anything the state fair could make it financially in Grand Island given its difficulties in Lincoln? Perhaps because UNL wants the land for the research center? Why cant the research center be located at a different location? It seems that the best interests of the majority of citizens is not at hand here to me. "

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