Supervisors approve $20K donation for new building at county fairgrounds

The Jasper County Fair Board got a hefty donation this week from the board of supervisors and it will go toward the construction of a new building that officials say would take some pressure off the pavilion, which is the main area to show livestock but has also become a catch-all for several other events at the fair.

Ed Machin and Doug Woebbeking, of the Jasper County Fair Board, asked for a financial contribution during the April 16 board of supervisors meeting. However, they did not ask for a specific dollar amount, saying they did not wish to offend the supervisors and that they would gladly take any donation willing to be given.

“Really there are probably three seasons with any of our buildings out there that have major uses. Of course, we’ll use it (the new building) at the fair. That’s why we’re doing this building,” Woebbeking said, noting it would be equipped with a stage for entertainment and educational uses.

Events like the Quilts of Valor presentation would likely take place at the new building. Woebbeking said the fair just does not have a facility to house 200 to 300 people. The pavilion has been the “band-aid” approach to large events, but the new building would better meet the needs of high volume activities.

It could even hold dances or bands on Friday or Saturday nights of the Jasper County Fair. Throughout the winter months the building would be used for storage. Jasper County Fair Board envisions it a multi-use, open side building. From April until September every year it could be used as a community building.

“It’ll basically be a giant tent, a permanent tent,” Machin said.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Jasper County Fair Board would rent a tent for specific events. But the rentals “got so ridiculously high” that board members felt it best to let it go. The building would be a permanent fix to the problem. The overall costs of the new building would cost about $138,000.

Machin said corporate sponsors are lined up to hopefully cover 50 percent of the costs. Supervisor Brandon Talsma asked if the fair board felt confident the county’s financial contribution would help kickstart the fundraising process. Machin and Woebbeking said it would.

Seeing the value of the Jasper County Fair and its impact on the area youth and families, Talsma felt very comfortable offering the board $20,000 on the spot using Local Option Sales Tax funds from fiscal year 2024. Talsma consulted with deputy auditor Teresa Arrowood to make sure the funds were there.

“I’m confident enough in the budget we just certified as well as the current fiscal year we’re sitting in. The Local Option Sales Tax really hasn’t been too touched for the current fiscal year,” Talsma said. “I think we can go ahead and squeak a monetary contribution for this project this year.”

Supervisor Doug Cupples was hesitant, saying he wanted to know for sure and make sure the board knows where the money is coming from. Talsma said he knows where it is coming from. Supervisor Denny Stevenson had no problem with the contribution if Arrowood was comfortable the money is there.

“I think the fair is one of the better returns on investment that we have,” Talsma said. “There are a lot of kids all throughout the county and outside of Jasper County that participate in that event every single year, and I’ve seen the demand that is placed on the current pavilion.”

Cupples reiterated he is not comfortable with it, but it had nothing to do with the amount or the county fair. He also suggested the money could be spread over a few years.

“You’re very diligent, Brandon, on keeping that budget tight,” Cupples said.

“I know,” Talsma said. “That’s why I’m sitting here speaking with the utmost confidence. I know we can accommodate the current fiscal year budget, especially with a Local Option Sales Tax allocation. Both Teresa and I have the utmost confidence that we can do this allocation for the year.”

In the next two years it might be a different story, but for the current fiscal year the county is financially sound, Talsma added. Cupples said he was still uncomfortable. When pressed by Stevenson about what would make him more comfortable, Cupples could not say.

“We just approved the budget and we’re slapping 20 grand on top of it,” he said.

But Stevenson, Talsma and Arrowood said that is not true, especially considering the board of supervisors only approved the FY25 budget and the money would be coming out of the current FY24 budget. Arrowood said the check would be written this fiscal year using Local Option Sales Tax.

“We’re fine,” she said.

The motion to allocate $20,000 of Local Option Sales Tax to the Jasper County Fair Board passed in a 2-1 vote, with only Cupples voting no.