By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
The Barton County Fair is less than a month away. Before the fair begins on Wednesday, July 5, some small renovations need to be made to the Expo III building. County Administrator Matt Patzner laid out the issue to the Barton County Commission Wednesday morning.
"In the Barton County Fair Board's 2023 budget request meeting, the Barton County Fair Association detailed need to improve emergency exits and lighting, as well as accessibility, at Expo III. With the upgrades made, the Fair Association requests that the county contribute $5,000 to the $7,969.33 project."
Barton County Fair Treasurer Kate Wary clarified that the upgrades have yet to be made, stressing the short window between Wednesday's meeting and the start of the fair to have the work done.
"We had to write the check to get on their schedule because the improvements have to be made before we can open the fair because the buildings aren't up to code, as is, without the exit lighting and stuff."
Commission Chair Shawn Hutchinson further clarified how much the fair board needed versus how much was requested, and the county's obligations to the fair under its normal budget. The fair did come in under budget in 2022 but those extra funds have since been transferred elsewhere.
"I'm all in favor of supporting the Barton County Fair," Hutchinson said. "They're not asking for a lot in the scheme of things. I would love it if someone would make a motion for the ($7,969.33) plus $500. Let's put it up to a vote."
Wary said contractors have assured the fair board the work will be completed by July 5. The commission approved to pay all $7,969.33 for the renovations, plus an additional $500 to be used for advertising. Hutchinson stipulated that money should be used to promote the carnival, which returns to the fair for the first time since 2019. With no carnival for Ellinwood's After Harvest Festival in July or Hoisington's Labor Day Celebration in September, the Barton County Fair carnival will be the only one in the county this year.