Friends of the Fairgrounds Presents Vision for Facility

DAYTON--Last week, the Columbia County Friends of the Fairgrounds came before the Columbia County Commissioners with their vision for facilities improvements at the fairgrounds.

“This is nuts and bolts. It is a work in progress,” CCFF President Julia Mead told the commissioners.

She said around 200-260 hours of research has gone into the document, and 18-20 subcommittees have contributed to it.

The CCFF has as its goal to make the fairgrounds self-supporting and generate revenue to the Parks and Recreation Fund, specifically to be used for fairgrounds maintenance and improvements.

Commissioner Norm Passmore reminded the group there is already a facilities improvement plan which was developed by a group of other interested citizens in 2017.

“I don’t see any reason why you can’t get going. But we can’t toss out the original plan,” he said.

The top priority for both the commissioners and the CCFF is to provide the fairgrounds pavilion with ADA compliant restrooms.

The CCFF has also identified as a priority upgrades to the Youth Building, including remodeling and upgrading the kitchen, evaluating the HVAC system, and building ADA bathrooms.

The commissioners asked the group to begin talks with the Columbia County Fair Board about plans for the historic white barn, and look into patching the roof and gutters there, and checking into the HVAC system at the Youth Building.

They also recommended the group to work closely with Planning Director Meagan Bailey on grant writing efforts.

The CCFF will also work with the Facilities Manager Dave Finney, who is working on improving efficiency of labor at the golf course and fairgrounds. Those facilities which bear the biggest labor costs for the county.

Finney worked with the commissioners to draft a volunteer policy, which is now in place, and Mead said the group will rely heavily on volunteers to accomplish its goals.

Commissioner Merle Jackson gave a nod of approval for the group’s effort. “This is going in the right direction,” he said.

The Columbia County Friends of the Fairgrounds meets on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month, at 7 p.m. at the American Legion Hall on Clay St. in Dayton. The public is invited to those meetings to learn more about the group’s vision for the fairgrounds.