Fairgrounds users plan for future

Groups that use the county fairgrounds in Superior are starting to get a handle on their needs — at least for the short-term.

And now, members of those groups are coming together to develop a strategic plan to manage anticipated changes at the Head of the Lakes Fairgrounds.

After all, the county transferred 13.3 acres on the north side of the fairgrounds, which includes an arena used by the Great Northern Classic Rodeo and a variety of horse riding groups and 4-H to the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Superior.

The Redevelopment Authority plans to sell the property to Kestrel Aircraft Co. in March 2013 for development of an assembly plant to manufacture the company’s K-350, single-engine turbo-prop plane designed to carry up to eight passengers.

The development is expected to create 600 jobs, including about 350 at the fairgrounds site.

No changes are expected to take place before 2013, however, that’s the year the rodeo arena and grandstands will be impacted when Kestrel begins construction of its assembly facility.

During a meeting with county officials Tuesday night, the Free Spirit Riders and Great Northern Classic Rodeo members agreed that moving the arena back to a site where the arena used to be located would work for the short-term.

After all, other facilities such as the horse barn, 4-H youth building and other structures are not expected to be effected by the development project. The county would retain access to the property, the multi-purpose building, curling club and parking through a license agreement before and during construction of aircraft manufacturing facility.

To help in those efforts, the county board last week established a fund for the anticipated proceeds of the sale for fairgrounds improvement, relocation, user group relocation assistance or other expenses related to the fairgrounds.

Supervisor Keith Allen, chairman of the Land and Development Committee, which has oversight of the fund, said the county board will need specific information about the dimensions of the new arena to begin planning for the move.

Wednesday, the agenda for the Land and Development Committee was amended to allow preliminary discussion of hiring regarding hiring an engineer to design specifications for moving the arena when the panel meets at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Allen encouraged the groups to contact County Clerk Sue Sandvick at (715) 395-1341 if they have specific issues to address with the committee, which has oversight of the fairgrounds.

Anyone who wants to serve on the strategic planning committee to guide the long-term solutions for the groups that use the fairgrounds is encouraged to contact Joan Wimme at (715) 395-1361 or joan.wimme@

ces.uwex.edu.

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