Williams details ARPA-funded fairground projects

With three weeks remaining until the 4-H Fair, Fulton County Fair Board President Stephen Williams had updates to share at county commissioners' meeting Monday.

He detailed several renovations being made ahead of the fair and made possible by $150,000 in American Rescue Plan Act, ARPA, funds provided by the county. 

"If you have driven by the fairgrounds here recently, coming on Third Street, going past the cemetery, you'll see the grandstands are pretty much fully assembled and everything is back together," Williams said, estimating the project is about 90 percent complete. "We still have a couple fine tuning pieces, but the main part is complete."

The grandstand project included concrete work for a handicap ramp and pathways, and a safety fence was to be installed Tuesday. 

"We came in just about $8,000 under budget," Williams said, adding the project totals about $75,000 in ARPA funding provided. 

The second upgrade being made is to the fairground's speaker system. A crew began installing wiring for the new system on Monday. The first stage is going to include the beef, dairy, show arena and swine barn, as well as a couple additional speakers to broadcast out in that general area. 

The current system being used is probably 35 years old, Williams said. 

"It's primarily out in the open, so it's got all the additional weather damage and wear, so ARPA funds will be paying for that as well," he added. 

That project, with installation, is $31,250.

"We're going to be doing some fine tuning over the next couple weeks to make sure the broadcast system works throughout the fairgrounds in the event that we need to, of course, do an evacuation, or just general updates for any fair-goer," Williams said.

He also shared kind words for sponsors of this year's fair, noting their support will allow the public to park for free six of eight nights. 

"The other two nights, the opportunity is available from Smith Family Farms to donate canned goods for free admission into the parking lot," he said. "In all reality, eight nights, you can come to the fair and not have to pay for parking."

All sponsors are to be listed within the next couple weeks of publications.

In other business, commissioners:

• Contracted with Burns Construction, Macy, to build a maintenance building on property of the sheriff's office and jail along Sweetgum Road. The 40-by-80-foot pole building will store equipment that has had to be kept outside for the last two and half years. The Fulton County Council had previously approved funding for the project as not to exceed $150,000. Burns' contract was for $105,399, with additional expenses anticipated for concrete and electrical work. Construction is to take 2-4 weeks, and it is being paid for with revenue collected by the housing of out-of-county inmates.

• Approved two zone map amendments. The first at 29 E. 100 North from Highway Commercial to Suburban Residential for a new home build, and the second along Indiana 114 south of Tony's City Wide Towing and Salvage in Akron from Ag District to General Commercial for the business.

• Heard from Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor Mike Norman the district board lost three of its five members on April 9. He noted the Indiana State Department of Agriculture seems to be departing from its typical process of filling the vacancies. In the meantime, the board is unable to make any recommendations or achieve a quorum with only Norman and Shirley Needham serving. Commissioners have reached out to the governor's office and State Rep. Jack Jordan, R-Bremen, for assistance in resolving the issue.

• Appointed Phyl Olinger to a four-year term on the Fulton County Public Library Board.

• Heard from Sheriff Travis Heishman the jail population was 137 as of Monday. That includes 50 inmates held for Grant County, 36 for Howard County and five federal inmates. In May, the county invoiced a little more than $95,000 for housing out-of-county inmates. 

• Heard plans regarding ongoing heat advisories from Assistant Emergency Management Agency Director Dawn Sewell. She also detailed trainings recently provided for grain rescues and power line safety. 

• Heard from Coroner Jeri Good that there have been 71 deaths in the county so far this year. That includes 38 females and 33 males. The coroner's office was contacted in 26 of those deaths. As a heat wave sets in, she also spoke on the importance of recognizing symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

• Expressed sympathy for the loss of Kathy Siders, who served on the county council for many years, and Davis Hurst, husband of County Councilwoman Lorie Hurst.