2024 Nebraska State Fair, (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
GRAND ISLAND – The Nebraska State Fair staff on June 11 asked the Grand Island City Council to provide $1.53 million for improvements that affect two things that the city owns: the Heartland Events Center and a strip of property that runs through the south parking lot.
Nebraska State Fair Executive Director Jaime Parr provided a page to the City Council that summarizes what would be included in the $1.53 million.
The City Council took no action on the State Fair’s request.
The site improvements are related to city property and easements at Fonner Park in an area used by the Nebraska State Fair.
The parking lot area south of the Heartland Events Center is currently under construction.
First, work needs to be completed to install underground storm sewer improvements and to regrade the parking lot south of the Heartland Events Center.
“These improvements will help the overall aesthetic of the area as well as provide drainage solutions to remove storm water quickly and efficiently to improve safety for drivers and pedestrians,” Parr wrote in a memo to City Council.
Second, “Work within the city parking lot (south of the Events Center) was completed to provide permanent power for vendors/owners to use during events on campus throughout the year.
“This type of power was only available by using generators during the Nebraska State Fair,” Parr wrote. “These improvements will open the door to many additional events to be held outdoors.”
The parking lot improvements include LED fixtures on existing light poles with power saving features when the area is not in use.
“These improvements will help increase the safety of the parking lot while also saving electrical costs,” Parr wrote.
The third area that will be funded will be installation of security cameras, fiber, and video storage for all light poles south of the Heartland Events Center,” Parr wrote.
In her presentation, Parr showed a picture of a person in a kayak in the area near the large State Fair buildings. The situation occurred because of poor drainage in the area. In 2019, rain received caused a number of infrastructure problems at the State Fair, including water not draining from paved areas.
At that time, Parr was Deputy Executive Director at the State Fair. Multiple outdoor concerts had to be moved inside to the Heartland Events Center. Parking lots had a buildup of mud and poor conditions. A kayaker could even be seen floating down a ditch at the fairgrounds.
Cindy Johnson, governmental affairs consultant for the Nebraska Fair, said that a master plan for the development of Fonner Park was completed in 2021. The Nebraska State Fair applied for American Rescue Plan (ARPA) funds and received $20 million from the state (Shovel Ready, Environmental and Tourism).
Phase 1 is mostly completed. The infield of the Fonner Park training track was regraded for concerts. Motorsports were moved outside. The driving aisle was paved, and a ditch was enclosed on the west side of the animal buildings. Olsson and Associates supervised installation of new underground detention systems on site to hold stormwater and connect with the city system.
The $20 million was used for infrastructure improvements including addressing campus flooding issues, environmental improvements for cleaner water, and connectivity to the east side of the campus by grading and culverts to allow improvements to the defined foot-path.
“This large-scale investment funded with Federal ARPA monies has made is possible to address longstanding deficiencies at the campus,” Parr wrote.
The first ARPA projects were completed by the fall of 2024. Completion of the overall project funded by ARPA is expected in the summer of 2026.
What is now visible is Phase 2 of the project, which includes major improvements to the south parking lot of Fonner Park where most of the vendors are located during the fair. The lot is being repaved, adding new concrete and storm sewer work. Improved lighting for the lot is being added. Newly paved parking lots to the west side of the Fonner Park campus along with new sewer lines are being installed.
This will be the 16th year of the Nebraska State Fair in Grand Island, Parr said.
“Since 2010 the Fonner Park Campus has undergone an unprecedented and historic transformation which has had a monumental impact on our community by fostering economic development, a rebirth of the South Locust corridor, and statewide and regional prominence as the home of the Nebraska State Fair,” Parr said.
The Fonner Park campus includes the Heartland Events Center, the Community Fieldhouse, the Grand Island Casino Resort, and Fonner Park, including the race track.
Each year, the facilities and events at the Fonner Park campus attract about 1 million people, Parr wrote. The State Fair alone attracts 300,000 to 350,000 visitors per year and has attracted 4.5 million visitors since 2010.
The campus is not just home to the Nebraska State Fair. The Aksarben Stock Show draws competitors from 14 states.
“Junor livestock shows, trade shows, and tourism activities continue to grow and flourish,” Parr wrote. The casino “will bring in thousands of new visitors to the campus.” The city has new management of the Heartland Events Center, and “we expect the use of that venue to increase as well.”
Tom Schelpeper of Stanton is the vice chairman of the Nebraska State Fair board. He noted that the stakeholders at the Fonner Park campus have really worked together to improve the campus with ARPA funds.
State Fair Board Chairman Boyd Strope of O’Neill said that this is his fifth year as Board chairman.
He said that the partnerships of the various organizations within the campus continue to grow.
Chris Kotulak, chief executive officer of Fonner Park, noted that the funding request is from the Nebraska State Fair.
“Fonner Park does support it,” Kotulak said.
Former Mayor Jay Vavricek addressed the City Council about the State Fair’s funding request.
“The investment here is a sound one,” he said. He noted that the project will complement the Heartland Events Center.
“If you have satisfied customers, they come back,” Vavricek said.
City Council Member Mark Stelk said that although the City Council could not take action on June 10, he hoped that the city could help.
City Council Member Mitch Nickerson said that he hoped for down the road, a plan was in place for periodic improvements to the infrastructure.
City Council Member Doug Brown described the Fonner Park campus as Grand Island’s “crown jewel.”
“Time is of the essence,” Parr said.
“All of the components of, and activities at, the Fonner Park campus complement each other and are creating an economic engine that has a huge and positive impact on our community,” Parr wrote.
In other action, the City Council voted 9-0 to approve amendments to Chapter 40 of the Grand Island City Code relative to stormwater management. City Council Member Mike Paulick was absent from the June 10 meeting. The changes will ensure that the city is in compliance with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System.
Also, Andy Garcia was appointed to fill a vacancy on the 4th Street Business improvement District Board.
A number of items were approved in the consent agenda. They include these items.
The Grand Island Police Department has the funds available to purchase eight in-car camera systems for $81,600.
Also, the City Council approved an amendment to engineering consulting services for the South Locust Trail. In a memo to City Council, Public Works Director and City Engineer Keith Kurz wrote that his project is for trail improvement from the existing Wood River Diversion Trail along South Locust Street to a proposed trail head just north of the Interstate 80 and South Locust interchange. The city is proposing a 10 foot concrete trail section with associated crossings, lighting, drainage, and other improvements needed to complete the project. This project will also include additions to two existing Platte River bridges to allow for the trail to cross over the river. An amendment to the original agreement with JEO Consulting was requested for $418,365,000, resulting in a revised agreement amount of $517,290.
The City Council also approved the award of professional engineering consulting services for the 13th Stret sanitary sewer main extension from Engleman Road to 60th Road. Three submissions were received. Olsson Inc. of Grand Island was recommended based on evaluation criteria, with services not to exceed $191,835,000.
In October 2024, the City Council approved application for grant funds and to provide the local matching funds. The total cost was estimated at $2,235,041, with a 25 percent local match, Kurz wrote. The grant request was for $1,788,033, leaving the local match at $447,008, funded by Hornady Manufacturing.
