Allow More Time for Waitsburg Fairgrounds

Dear Editor,

Previously I wondered how much more time and money should be invested in determining the fate of the Waitsburg Grandstands. The city has taken about a year so far and Randy had to request progress reports several times from the Spokane engineer who, it seemed, wanted more money to expand the scope of the study. Interesting that when informed it was unlikely the city would go for the expensive options it only took the engineer a couple of hours to state “…So tearing it down may be the best solution…”

After attending the Fairgrounds Committee meeting on Sept. 12 and hearing another option, it may be worth city council’s consideration to allow the committee more time to explore that option.

The gentlemen rebuilding the structure by the restored school house in Dayton have decades of experience with this type of construction. It was their contention restoration of the grandstands was possible for about $41,000—parts, labor, permits, etc. If the city were willing to kick in the $15,000 it would cost to remove the grandstands that would leave $26,000 to raise—far more doable than the $100,000-$750,000 the engineer suggested. Their assessment of the deterioration was not nearly as dire as the engineer’s.

Since the city has spent a year getting their facts, what would be the harm to allow another six-nine months for the Fairgrounds Committee to gather theirs—especially now that they have some numbers to work from. The grandstands have weathered many winters up to now. One more shouldn’t hurt.

Jim Davison

Waitsburg