Commission To Vote On Land Purchase For New Fairgrounds

Putnam County’s Fiscal Review Committee has recommended purchasing 92-acres of property as the future location of the county fairgrounds.

The committee made the recommendation Monday night.

The property is located near the Baxter exit of Interstate-40. A final decision now rests in the hands of the county commission, which will vote on the recommendation Monday.

County Executive Randy Porter said he gave a presentation on the property last night.

“It seemed to go really good and I only know of one person out of the 12-member committee that voted no,” Porter said. “The only thing I have heard is people saying it’s out too far in the county, but when we moved the old fairgrounds from Maple to where it is today we heard the same thing.”

Porter said the county’s option to buy $2.5 million property expires at the end of the month. He also said at least one company has expressed interest in purchasing the current fairgrounds for an estimated $10 million, which would leave the county with $7.5 million to build the new fairgrounds and 40,000 square foot expo center.

The County Commission will meet at 6:00 p.m. Monday.