The Poke Sallet Foundation requesting support from Jackson County to repair numerous items at the county’s fairgrounds.
Foundation President Kara Smith said upgrades needed for the site’s bathrooms, electrical system, bleachers, and roadways. Smith said the main items the foundation wants to handle before this year’s event in May include cleaning up the bleachers and fixing the bathrooms in the community center.
“We’ll still put safety, yellow safety tape around it but last year we did and people still tried to sit down,” Smith said. “So there is a safety hazard there, so try to get those and I am trying to get some quotes from some people about checking that plumbing because that was a really big issue last year with those bathrooms.”
County Commission Chair Joey Denson said Smith needs to meet with the county’s fair board to develop a multi-year plan for these different projects. Denson said the fairgrounds are the county’s responsibility but there needs to be a concrete plan in place to move forward.
“I’m sure the commission and the county will do what we can do,” Denson said. “We’ve tried to help maintain the ball fields and the fairgrounds and everything we can over the years. I know all the time I’ve been around we have.”
Smith said the foundation would also like to seek out grants with the fair board to install lighting on the back field of the site so the area can be used after dark. Smith said the foundation wants to collaborate with the county to find sponsors and improve the fairgrounds together.
“I had met with (County Mayor Jim Morgan) and then he said meet with the fair board so we met,” Smith said. “So this is a follow-up from that so will just continue.”
