$1.5 million: Fair launches plan for new grandstand

After an injection of $1.4 million from the county's .09 sales tax fund, the Palouse Empire Fair has launched a plan to install a new grandstand at the fairground over this summer and have the new facility ready for September's fair.

Bill Tensfeld, fair administrator, reported to fair board members Monday night that the project will get underway in May with the aim of getting it in place for the 2019 fair.

Tensfeld said the fair is working with an area representative of Southern Bleacher Company located in Graham, Texas. The company has qualified on the state bid roster.

"It's been a long time coming," said board member Chad Startin who has headed a Fair Foundation project to get a new grandstand at the fair. The foundation has placed its focus on the grandstand as its number-one priority over the past two years.

County commissioners Jan. 7 approved a transfer of $1.4 million from reserves derived from the state .09 tax fund for public development.

Monday, Commissioner Mike Largent said the county has developed a reserve fund with .09 revenue over the years. He added serious discussion about moving part of the reserve over to the grandstand project started after the county learned land for the state line Hawkins project had been sold.

The end of the Hawkins proposal also marked an end to the county commitment to pay for infrastructure for the shopping mall which had been proposed. Largent explained the county had been working to build a reserve with the idea of one day having to meet that commitment.

Every year the county tags $100,000 of the .09 revenue which goes to a Blue Ribbon committee which awards grants to projects around the county.

Tensfeld Monday night said the cost of the grandstand is expected to total in the range of $1.5 million.

The timeline for construction includes approximately one-and-one-half months to excavate and pour the concrete support pad and mounts for the steel support structure. An estimated two months will be needed to install the steel structure, ramps, walkways and the aluminum seats.

The new grandstand will include a combination of bleacher seating and fold-up plastic seats. It will include nine segments for a total of 36 box seat units with a row of handicap seats behind the boxes.

The seating plan shown to the fair board includes a central seating section in the main grandstand which will have the plastic seats and sections on each end which will offer bleacher seating.

Seating capacity has been figured at 2,466.

Another feature of the grandstand plan includes three exits along the length of the grandstands in addition to the ramp entrances at each end.

Tensfeld Monday night described the grandstand as a "monster" with a length that will come close to matching up with the length of the rodeo arena.

The grandstand will replace the 40-year-old bleacher seating which was acquired from the former Spokane Grand Prix after it ceased operations in Spokane.

The fair and commissioners did discuss the addition of a roof for the new grandstand, but that was dropped because the added cost was estimated in the range of $600,000.

Tensfeld told the fair board he has had inquiries from individuals who are interested in acquiring the grand prix bleachers. The key factor will be getting the present bleachers removed in time to start the construction of the support pad for the new grandstand.

He said the grandstand purchase includes a standardized plan for the pad and support system. The grandstand company is now in search of a contractor to do the work for the pad.

One of the initial concerns will be how long it will take the grandstand site to dry out this spring so work can get underway.