Brown County Judge Dr. Paul Lilly announced during a Monday afternoon press conference his intentions to recommend to the Brown County Commissioners that money from the American Rescue Plan be directed toward upgrades and improvements at the Brown County Fairgrounds.

Brown County’s total allocation of American Rescue Plan funds is $7,354,638 with the second installment of $3,677,319 expected in May of this year. The expected cost of the renovations – with the possibility of covering the Earl Q. Wilson Rodeo Arena – is $4,332,996. Without the addition of a covering the rodeo arena, the cost would be estimated at $832,996.

With what remains of the first installment and what is coming with the second installment, Lilly stated the county would have enough money to pay for the entire cost of the project, if commissioners chose to do so.

Funds from the American Rescue Plan can be used for capital improvements, according to Brown County Grant Coordinator Pat McLaughlin.

“They’d prefer to see the money go into existing facilities and that the investment would show a multi-year return to the community, and it’s not a flash in the pan,” McLaughlin said. “We’ll be able to see the benefits from the county for many, many years.”

Reasons for upgrading the facilities include:

• American Disability Act Compliance
• Safety of exhibitors and fans
• Use as an emergency management facility including disaster relief staging; storage of disaster relief supplies; storage of Brown County Emergency Management vehicles; Emergency Management Training and Classes; Relief location for pets and animals during disaster events
• Attract additional events to bring in revenue for local business

Brown County Fair Association President Bryan Senkirik said, “We get a lot of funds and revenue coming into our association from businesses inside this county. It would be nice for us to be able to give back to those individuals some way and somehow. With the renovation of the projects we’re trying to do, I believe we could bring more events into the community and therefore the tax revenues for those cities would be helped tremendously. We would appreciate anything we can get, even if it’s $2 I’m appreciative of it.”

Brown County Rodeo Chair Tommy Dougherty said, “When I got appointed chairman of the rodeo I went over and looked at the arena and some of the issues that need to be fixed. The restrooms at the rodeo arena are pretty horrific. I talked with Waldrop Construction, and they gave us a bid on the renovating some of the facilities.”

The renovation plan is broken down into four phases:

• Phase 1 – Urgently needed due to safety and sanitary concerns
• Phase 2 – Needed due to sanitary concerns and dilapidated buildings
• Phase 3 – Needed to secure the arena area
• Phase 4 – Needed to bring in revenue for local businesses

Items and costs included in Phase 1 are:

• Announcer’s stand – $23,000
• 2 concession stands with appliances – $45,450
• Structural repair/renovate and extend pen area – $12,500
• Tractor – $16,000
• Plumbing and Ventilation – $188,830 (for all four phases)
• Rewiring and bringing more power to the west and announcer’s stand as well as the video board and needed upgrades to buildings – $80,000 (all phases)
• Phase I Total: $407,780

Items and costs included in Phase 2 are:

• Renovations for 2 restroom facilities at the rodeo arena – $364,216
• Kitchen/concession stand renovations at the Youth Fair Barns – $Awaiting bid

Items and costs included in Phase 3 are:

• New Fence – $61,000
• Items and costs included in Phase 4 are:
• Covering the arena, including side skirts, lights, fans – $3,500,000

There are also hopes to one day blacktop the parking lot at the fairgrounds.

The American Rescue Plan funds must be incurred and obligated by Dec. 31, 2024 and the funds must be expended to cover obligations and all work must be completed by Dec. 31, 2026.

“By being able to lease out that facility think of the additional revenue when we have events there,” Lilly said. “People will be staying in hotels and motels, eating at our restaurants, and shopping at our local shops, I believe it’s win-win all the way around.”