BROKEN BOW—Months since the August storm, the Custer County Ag Society moves to accept bids for various repairs at the Fairgrounds. The board has spent months to make a plan for repairing storm damage and has worked with Insurance of the Heartland.
During Thursday’s monthly meeting, Scott Reynolds moved to accept a bid proposed by Tri-City Signs in the amount of $19,700. The proposed sign will be 20 feet tall and include a three by seven foot digital display. The motion carried for the new sign to replace the old arch sign in the southeast corner of the fairgrounds.
A motion was made to conduct repairs for two items on a bid received from Pearson Construction. The items involve replacing the roofing on Buildings 19 and 20 and replacing all the damaged doors on Building 19 with insulated overhead doors. Total costs of these items will be a maximum of $342,000. The motion passed.
The payment plan for the above mentioned items was discussed following the vote. With the price of steel going up in the near future, the board voted to pay for all the materials and 50% of the labor as soon as possible.
The Ag Society recently received a grant from the NRA Foundation in the amount of $24,500 to help repair damages to the Shootings Sports Building. Pearson Construction was also awarded a bid in the amount of $61,500 to repair the roof, siding, and air conditioner units on the Shooting Sports Building (Building 18).
A new stall barn has been a top priority for the Ag Society since last year and the board felt an 80-stall stall barn would best accommodate the needs of the fairgrounds. The board voted to award Pearson Construction the bid with a total cost of $72,000. According to the meeting minutes, Pearson Construction will donate the labor for this project.
Other items discussed:
• Ag Society working on a new logo for the Custer County Fairgrounds
• New crow’s nest/announcer booth is in the works
• Nebraska State Bank indicated it will provide funds (a loan) to help complete a stall barn if the funds are needed
• Events Coordinator Michelle Nelson working on Summer Barrel Racing series and community booths for 2018 county fair
• Looking at new ideas for fairgrounds, “midget wrestling” is being considered as well as dance/fun nights with Borderline during the summer months
• Grounds Manager JJ Martin recently purchased a Sawzall and circular saw
• Fall consignment auction contract to include a $250 deposit that will not be returned if items are left on the grounds after 30 days post auction
• Salvage metal has so far totaled about $600
• Troy Walz thanks Broken Bow Animal Hospital and volunteers who assisted with 2018 market beef weigh in: 211 head of market beef were weighed in on February 3. 52 head were identified for state fair and Aksarben
• Extension office also working on judges list for 2018 county fair
