Fair board to build two halls with hotel tax, grant revenue

By Janice Crompton, Post-Gazette Staff Writer
Copyright 2001 P.G. Publishing Co.
Article date: November 4, 2001
 

The Washington County Fair Board plans to begin construction within two weeks on a $900,000 project to erect two exhibit halls.

Fair board President Lee Robinson said almost all of the funding for the project is coming from a new county hotel tax established in August. Commissioner John Bevec said the county probably would use about $100,000 a year for 10 years from hotel tax proceeds to fund the project. Last week, the state also announced the fair will receive a $25,000 state Department of Agriculture grant to demolish one of the four existing exhibit halls. The new halls will include heating and air conditioning, and outdoor food booths adjacent to the buildings also will be rebuilt with new sinks, water heaters and better lighting.

Once the project is completed -- estimated to be sometime before next year's fair in August -- Robinson said the fair should have 38,000 square feet of exhibit space in three halls.

One of the goals of the project, he said, will be to rent out the halls for large gatherings, such as banquets and weddings.

"I think it's something that we really need," Robinson said. "We'll be able to utilize the fairgrounds more."

The halls also will feature a clear rooftop that will cover both buildings. It also will cover an area between the halls that will serve as a shelter in bad weather.

"I think it's really going to make a nice addition," he said.

Robinson said he's not sure how old the exhibit halls are, but he believes they were part of the original fairgrounds, built in 1911. The fair is the largest annual event in the county, drawing about 85,000 visitors each year.

The county roughly estimates the new tax -- a 3 percent surcharge on hotel rooms -- will bring in about $350,000 a year. The proceeds have been earmarked for tourism projects, and Bevec said the fairgrounds are one of the county's biggest draws because they are the site of the agricultural fair, craft fairs and a rib festival.

"It's an ongoing tourist facility," he said. "We want to make sure they can improve that place."
 

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