Commissioners endorse building addition

McCOOK, Neb. — The Red Willow County fairgrounds are busy nearly every weekend, and county commissioners signed on in support of a project to help accommodate even more activity.

Although no county money is directly attached to the support, it will carry weight with decision-makers who do have money for such a project.

Mid-Plains Community College rodeo coach and event promoter Garret Nokes and County Fair Manager Jiles Bowman asked for a letter of support for a new addition to the Alice Building, to make more room for horses and spectators when the main Kiplinger Arena is booked.

There are already dozens of events booked for the Kipliinger for the coming year, and many smaller events keep the facilities busy throughout the year, Nokes said. He estimated the addition could result in another $40,000 to $50,000 income to the fairgrounds in the coming years.

The planned !2,000-square-root addition would be a lean-to type structure on the entire north side of the existing building.

It would cost upwards of $400,000, and Bowman said he had recently received word that construction materials have taken a 20% increase.

A grant writer will use the letter of support to seek funding from the McCook Community Foundation Fund, as well as other charitable foundations.

Commission Chairman Earl McNutt noted that one of the main benefits to the community is the business fairground activities bring to the community.

In other business, commissioners discussed with David Blau of Miller & Associated procedures for replacing a bridge on the northwest side of Bartley.

McNutt also asked Blau to look into what would be required to replace a canal bridge southwest of McCook, but it was noted that would involve the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

Meeting as a board of equalization, the commissioners approved a tax roll correction, which actually only involved correcting the name of the ownership.