Contract awarded for building fair’s grandstand

The Indiana-based Townsend Company received the winning bid unanimously in last Wednesday’s Adair County supervisors meeting for the job of building the county fair’s new grandstand.

Townsend, which has a location in Urbandale, bid the project at $656,000. Other bids were from Sturdy Steel at $796,500 and GT Grandstands at $658,000, but those companies did not have local representatives either.

“They’re all pretty similar when you go through their specs,” Supervisor Chairman and Fair Board member Nathan Baier said. “A couple of the companies weren’t sure about doing the foundation the way we want it done. Townsend didn’t seem to have a problem with that, which was the other thing [beside the price].”

The Adair County Fair is July 9-13. Sometime after it concludes, the current grandstand, which is believed to date back to the 1920s, will be razed and dirt work will be done to prepare for the new structure, due to be built next spring.

The current grandstand has experienced normal wear and tear; however, there are also safety concerns that accompany it because of steep steps.

The new grandstand is expected to be very similar to the current one with improved handicap accesibility, back rests on seats and a roof.

In other action, the board:

• approved a commitment to ICAP

• denied funding for community and family resources but wanted the associated agency to come talk to them for possible future approval

• allowed courthouse custodian Scott Roberts to hire for the removal of a dead crabapple tree from the courtyard

• heard a report from Sheriff Jeff Vandewater about insurance and FEMA dollars for projects relating back to the tornado — mainly the radio tower rebuild and a rooftop air conditioning unit at the sheriff’s office

• heard an update on maintenance and activity from County Engineer Nick Kauffman and gave a six-month extension for his interim contract helping Adams County. He said Adams County is in a very active search for a new county engineer of their own