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Show ik m JBmrJPnce FaprFmf9 Site? 1 sc By GARY R. BLODGETT News Editor FARMINGTON Davis County may have selected a site for its new fairgrounds complex -- but only if the price is right. DAVIS COUNTY Commissioners said they are seriously considering a 60-acre site near the Oakridge Country Club in west Farmington. In fact, the site is located between be-tween U.S. Highway 89 (Mountain Road) and Interstate Highway 15 and south of She-pard She-pard Lane. The parcel in question is all or part of about a 100-acre tract east of the south nine holes of the Oakridge Country Club Golf Course. The sale price is between $37,000 and $45,000 per acre. IT'S THE SALE price that has county officials concerned. Commissioner Harry Gerlach said he believes be-lieves the location to be "ideal for all Davis County" but questioned the high price tag -high compared to some other properties in the area. "IT'S AN IDEAL location but I feel that we would have to put the land to multiple use to justify the purchase and development of a rodeo, fairgrounds and county park complex," he said. One way or another, Davis County will have to have another site available by the summer of 1985 -- or temporarily put aside its traditional fair activities. THE REASON: an agreement between Davis County Fair Board and Lagoon Corporation Cor-poration expires after 1984. And it doesn't appear that an extension is in the offering. Thus, a new county fair complex site is going to be needed soon if Davis County is to have development -- even partial development de-velopment in time for the 1985 fair. COUNTY OFFICIALS are intent in keeping keep-ing the fairgrounds site centrally located, preferably in the Farmington-Kaysville area. Jack Bailey, of the Davis County Economic Econo-mic Development Board, said earlier that property is available in north and south Davis County at a lot less money. "BUT THIS would not be centrally located lo-cated and could create problems when it comes to bonding for development of the site," he said. Commissioner Gerlach also noted that the entire county has been surveyed for a possible site and last year about 10 sites were considered. "These sites were given priority based on location, accessibility and price of the land." COMMISSIONERS agree there is an ' i urgency for purchase of a new site but they ,;i must keep in mind funds necessary to pur- ' chase the land and then the taxpayers' response re-sponse for approving a bond issue neces- j sary to develop the land. L Commissioner Harold J. Tippetts empha- 1 sized that the proposed site near the golf 'd, course is "centrally located, has good ac- I cess and has excellent exposure from the f Interstate and Highway 89." m HE SUGGESTED that to make the com- 111 plex economically feasible, there should be j a year-around park, fulltime horse arena a,0 and track, and an exhibition hall in addition j Do to other fairground and rodeo facilities used ( ; primarily during the summer. j.:Je He said the exhibition hall could be used i for animals shows, displays and exhibits. Davis County high school and youth groups r could also use the facility year around. LOOKING TO the future, development j1 of the fairgrounds could also include expan- sion of county-owned buildings to relieve (;.iX overcrowding of existing facilities in Farm- $ ington, commissioners explained. These , agencies could include the Utah State Uni- versity Extension Service, already involved in county fair activities; Council on Aging, t .. Utah Highway Patrol, and other agencies. ( |
