Fair Association requesting loan from county for improvements.

File photo of fair equestrian winner.

Fair Association requesting loan from county for improvements.

PERE MARQUETTE TOWNSHIP — The Western Michigan Fair Association is asking the Mason County Board of Commissioners to approve a loan of up to $167,000 to assist in funding of several capital improvement projects at the Mason County Fairgrounds, which is leased by the Association.

The WMFA is seeking to make the following improvements:

• Replace horse barns 13 and 14 with two new 60-feet by100-feet barns, which will each house 44 9-feet by 9-feet stalls at a cost of $83,500 per building. According to a memo from the Association to the commissioners, the current buildings are “undesirable and unsafe.” The building of the new barns will help the Association to remain competitive in attracting equestrian competitions. In 2017, over 20 equine events were held at the fairgrounds,
• Repair the main horse arena resurfacing at a cost of $6,000.
• Expand the fairgrounds’ campground by an additional 10 30-feet by 60-feet sites at a cost of $4,700 (phase 1), for a total of 140 sites. The second phase would be adding another seven sites for a cost of $3,800.

The board of commissioners will meet Tuesday, Dec. 11, at 7 p.m. at the Mason County Courthouse.