Fairgrounds Expansion Still On Agenda

PLATTSMOUTH - The idea of expanding the Cass County Fairgrounds is still being discussed.

A proposal to buy 15 acres from the Vogler family has not advanced since February, but the county may have its sights on an alternative site of 20 acres.

Steve Warga of Cassgram reports on Tuesday's county board meeting.

 Warga: “The parcel adjoins the fairgrounds on the southwest.

 The purchase price offer approved yesterday by the Cass County Board of Commissioners is $20,000 an acre.

 The plan all along has been for the county to buy the property and then sell it to the ag society. The county has been assured by the county attorney’s office that state law allows this to happen without a bidding process.”

Cassgram reports that the county is obligated to provide Nebraska Extension with office space  and may contract with Ag Society for the new space.

Warga: “ In comments at the meeting, County Board Chairman Dan Henry said preliminary talks now involve a change of location for the Cass County Extension Office from its current location. That would free up space at that location for the needs of Cass County EMA which also oversees the county EMS operations. (The extension service occupies the top level of the building and EMA/EMS is in the lower level of the property owned by the ag society.)  

"Fair Board President Mark Rathe talked about upgrades made to the 4-H building on the fairgrounds. As to the land purchase, “The 20 acres, that would be nice. 10 years ago, when we bought 10 acres (on west), we thought that was going to be God’s plenty. What’s going to happen in another 10 to 15 years?”

Youth Development Coordinator Lauren Stohlmann said the extension’s current space is used by five workers and provides meeting space for 4-H clubs.