FROM PAGE ONE
A8 — THE OBSERVER
SATURDAY, MAY 7, 2022
FAIRGROUNDS
Continued from Page A1
restrooms — as it stands, the fair-
grounds currently rents portable
restrooms for events to compen-
sate for the lack of facilities. The
location hosts year-round events
and serves as an emergency loca-
tion for the county.
Fair Manager Kathy Gov-
er-Shaw spoke at the meeting,
stating the year-round impacts of
the fairgrounds and its value to
local tourism. She stated that while
the facilities host a slew of annual
gatherings, the lack of running
water and functioning restrooms is
limiting the board’s ability to host
larger festivals and events.
“By improving our waste-
water system, we would be able
to accommodate much larger,
multi-day events and bring even
more people into our area,” Gov-
er-Shaw said at the meeting.
Gover-Shaw also referred to the
fairgrounds’ usage as an emergency
response area, as well as an asset
for camping and outdoor recreation
in association with its close prox-
imity to Mount Emily Recreation
Area. Board member Amy Horn
pointed out the current restroom sit-
uation is not handicap accessible,
deterring certain attendees during
events and limiting the scope of
events that can be hosted.
“Events that go on in La Grande
should be as inclusive as pos-
sible,” Horn said. “We shouldn’t
be limiting who can attend some-
thing just because we don’t have
restroom facilities.”
Fair board members speaking
at the regular session provided
numerous reasonings for why they
see the project as a boon to the
local area.
“This space has so much poten-
tial to off er our vibrant commu-
nity,” board member Melinda
Becker-Bisenius said. “Through
this project we will see an increase
in tourism, which will result
in fi nancial gains for the local
economy. Growing our facility
with this project will increase the
opportunity for events, family
gatherings and future growth.”
Ownership, liability factors
create complications
La Grande city offi cials were
participatory in the planning
process meetings, but fi nan-
cial liability is a deterring factor.
Davis Carbaugh/The Observer
The Second Street bridge, which is under construction by the Oregon Department of Transportation, crosses over Interstate 84
and the Grande Ronde River on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. A proposed project calls for using the bridge as a connecting route for a
sewer line from the city of La Grande to the Union County Fairgrounds, which lacks a working sewage system.
Davis Carbaugh/The Observer
A Union County Fairgrounds building off ers a warm welcome to visitors on
Thursday, May 5, 2022, but it can’t off er working toilets. The fair board is seeking
approval to connect a sewer line from the city of La Grande to the fairgrounds in
order to operate a permanent restroom system.
Responsibility for potential debt,
maintenance costs and ongoing
fees all play a role in the city’s
involvement in connecting the line.
The proposed sewer line would
cross over the Grande Ronde River
and Interstate 84 via the Second
Street bridge, connecting to the
current line at the corner of Lake
Avenue and Second Street. Despite
the high-volume usage of the fair-
grounds and its event capacity,
the facility is still treated as a
single customer since it would be
the only location attached to the
new line. Carpenter noted during
the council session that, despite
the clear social importance of the
project, the city must examine the
maintenance costs and ongoing
fees.
“The requests that are part of
this sewerage system are going to
be analyzed in the same manner
that I would analyze any other
account that came to the city,” Car-
penter said at the meeting. “From
my public works director seat, my
job is not to measure the social
importance of a project, it’s to make
sure that your water and sewerage
systems stay economically viable
and that the decisions and recom-
mendations I make to (the city) are
based on that analysis alone.”
The construction, ownership
and management of a new lift
station associated with the fair-
grounds’ sewer line is another
discussion item currently up in
the air. Carpenter stated that a
potential clog during a large-
scale event could cause serious
setbacks and fi nancial burdens.
The city currently owns and
operates seven lift stations, with
the 26th Street station serving
roughly half the city.
“The sticking point with the lift
station is who is going to own and
operate it, and who would main-
tain it,” La Grande City Manager
Robert Strope said at the meeting.
“That would be an ongoing com-
mitment to keep it current.”
Strope said the project is not
as simple as just running the line,
noting that ongoing discussions
need to be held to determine the
specifi cs of the city’s role and
spending in the project.
Councilors in attendance voiced
support for the proposal, but
agreed that a work session is nec-
essary to iron out the details of the
city’s involvement and the owner-
ship and liability of the sewer line.
Time is of the essence
Another element of the waste-
water project is the Second Street
bridge, which is currently under
construction by ODOT.
Union County Commissioner
Matt Scarfo, who serves as
liaison to the fairgrounds, stated
that $1,520,000 is currently in
place for the sewer project and
is enough to cover phase one,
according to Anderson Per-
ry’s analysis. The Union County
Fairgrounds received $1 million
from this year’s short session and
$270,000 from last year’s regular
session.
The county also allocated up
to $250,000 in funding through
the American Rescue Plan Act to
construct the sewer line during
ODOT’s work on the Second
Street bridge, which would
avoid closing the roadway again
at a later date. Scarfo noted
that installing the pipeline may
not necessarily cost the full
$250,000, but that the county
allocated that amount in order to
have enough to cover the project
— the total estimated cost is yet
to be determined.
The best case scenario would
be to complete phase one of the
sewer project while the bridge
construction is underway, and
before the Union County Fair
takes over the fairgrounds this
summer. But the details of
the sewer project must fi rst be
worked out.
Strope emphasized that ques-
tions still remain in terms of the
overall project funding. Phase
two of the proposal involves the
construction of new restroom
facilities after the sewer line is
connected to the city’s system.
A total project cost of approxi-
mately $2.7 million would likely
require loans, which Strope iden-
tifi ed as another moving part in
the process — the unknown of
potential borrowing without a
guarantee of DEQ loan forgive-
ness could prove costly to the
city, if involved.
La Grande Mayor Steve
Clements, along with the
council, favored a work session
in the near future to continue
the discussion of the sewer line
with the fair board members.
The water and sewer project
tops the list of the fair board’s
goals — a variety of future plans
for upgrading the fairgrounds’
facilities rely on running water
and an up-to-par permanent
restroom system. The fair board
is currently continuing its fund-
raising eff orts to fund the full
project.
STRONG COMMUNITIES REQUIRE
VIGILANCE AND RE-INVESTMENT FOR:
THRIVING SCHOOLS
John Tolan - Retired Principal/Teacher
“This is a wonderful chance to pay it
forward for our children and community. I
strongly encourage you to vote ‘yes.’ “
Parker McKinley - Teacher/Coach
“We need these facilities desperately. We
use them constantly and they are literally
falling down around us. This is a tremendous
opportunity we cannot afford to pass up.”
Melinda Becker-Bisenius - Teacher/Coach
“It’s important for everyone to have access
to our facilities. I am passionate about
getting this facility for all the kids and
everyone one in our community.”
A GROWING BUSINESS COMMUNITY
Lance Rinker - Director of Materials
& Marketing, Northwood Investments
“This is our chance as a community to make a
long-term, multi-generational impact for our
collective future. The timing will never be better.
Please join me in voting ‘yes’ on Measure 31-105.”
QUALITY MEDICAL CARE
& FIRST RESPONDERS
Cody Bowen - Union County Sheriff/Coach
“Whatever your feelings are about government,
this is an opportunity we need to take advantage
of for our children. Please join me in voting ‘yes.’ “
Brent Gunderson - CPA/Partner
Connected Professional Accountants, LLC
“We can nearly double our money and get a
brand new sports complex and classrooms
without raising your taxes or extending the life
of the existing debt. This is literally a ‘golden
opportunity’ for our entire community.”
BOND 31-105
• Secure a $ 4,000,000 Grant
• Eliminate ADA Barriers
• Help Students THRIVE With Increased
Club & Academic Activities
• Maintain Existing Tax Rates
• Replace 2 of the Districts
Oldest Buildings
• Increase Indoor Recreational
Opportunities For The Community
CitizensForSchoolRenovations.com
Paid for by Citizens For School Renovations
Invest In Our Future By Supporting Our Schools
- With No Additional Cost!