COLUMBUS - A study will soon be launched to discover the current economic impact of the Platte County Agricultural Park and what it might be if proposed improvements and the construction of an event/convention center came to pass in the next few years.
The Platte County Agricultural Society board approved the expenditure of as much as $20,000 for a feasibility study to determine the viability of constructing an event/convention center at the Platte County Agricultural Park. The action was approved by all the board members present with the exception of Gary Wiese of Lindsay who questioned where the money would come from if the study came back in support of the project.
“I just don't know where you're going to get the money that's going to be needed for this project after you spend $20,000 for this study,” Wiese said.
The board briefly discussed possible funding mechanisms, including a lodging tax and bond issues, but concluded the feasibility study was the next step.
Loren Kucera of the Nebraska Business Development Center at Wayne State College will conduct the study beginning in early January with a late June or July 2008 completion date.
Funding of up to half of the cost of the study not to exceed $10,000 was approved by the Platte County Board of Supervisors in September. The $10,000 allotted would come from a reallocation of a portion of the $50,000 extra they had approved for capital improvements in the society's 2007-08 budget request.
The feasibility study will be tied to recommendations detailed in the ag society's master plan created in 2005. The master plan provided by The Clark Enersen Partners details proposed improvements to the Platte County Agricultural Park buildings and grounds.
“I view this project as more than a feasibility study ... (also as) a study that explores the opportunities for the Platte County Agricultural Society to better enhance the entertainment, recreation, and convention/conference opportunities in the Columbus area,” Kucera wrote in a letter to the ag board. “The project would attempt to determine the number and types of activities or events that Ag Park could host and determine whether or not the facility can sustain and support itself, assuming that the existing support is maintained or increased.”
Kucera's final report will contain the analysis, recommendations and proposed budgets for the project.
In other action the ag society board reviewed a balance sheet summary which compared the society's financial status for September of 2006 and September of this year.
The bottom line showed liabilities and assets valued at $1.4 million in September last year compared to $1.26 million last month; a difference of just more than 10 percent or $143,648.
“This is common at this time of the year,” said Chuck Kurtenbach, chairman. “Our fiscal year ends in November, and we expect the numbers to be up by the end of our fiscal year.”
The board also approved a plan to request permission for five fewer days on next year's racing schedule from the Nebraska State Racing Commission. If approved next year's schedule would run from July through Labor day.
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