County proposes raising rent fees

Event organizer says vendors likely to take brunt of increased costs

The cost of renting some buildings and facilities at the Douglas County 4-H Fairgrounds will double if new fees are approved next month by county commissioners.

That doesn’t sit too well with Alberta Dover, who for nearly 20 years has been organizing the annual Holiday Arts and Crafts Bazaar held at the fairgrounds. An average of about 90 exhibitors participate in the event, and she would have to pass on the extra costs to them.

“The people out there do this to make a little money at Christmas,” Dover said. “They don’t have much money coming in.”

Dover usually rents three buildings at the fairgrounds. The show is in Building 21, with supplies and other things kept in Buildings 1 and 2. Though the bazaar is a one-day event, the buildings also are rented on Friday to allow vendors to prepare their booths. Dover could end up paying at least an extra $240 plus putting down $100 deposits for each of the buildings for each day.

That could prompt Dover to find another location, she said.

“It will cause quite a problem for all of us,” she said. “You know, if we have to find another place, I don’t know whether my vendors will come back.”

The new fee and deposit structure is designed to allow the county to recuperate 50 percent of fairground operation costs in three years. There would be no fee increases next year, when 40 to 45 percent of the costs will be recaptured, said Harold Stewart, a Kansas University public administration graduate student working as an intern in the county administrator’s office.

“At that time we will sit down and evaluate the effects of the fee change,” Stewart told commissioners during their Monday meeting.

Commissioners Bob Johnson, Jere McElhaney and Charles Jones did not express opposition to the fee changes. In fact, last year they asked county staff to study increasing rates to ease operating costs. But they delayed voting on the new rates until their March 8 meeting. They said they wanted the public to have a chance to know about the proposed increases.

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For example, renting the north or south halves of Building 21 would double, from $40 to $80 for six-hour blocks. Deposits of $100 will be requested. The rentals for Buildings one and two would go from $20 to $40.

There would be no change in fees for the rodeo arena, livestock barns and judging arena. Shelter rentals would remain $15 per day.

Renting the arena building will cost $350 for weekdays and $400 for weekends. Currently there are different rates for commercial and non-commercial groups. There would be deposits required: $1,500 for events scheduled nine to 12 months in advance; $1,000 for those set six to nine months in advance; and $500 for those scheduled less than six months in advance.

Government agencies and nationally or locally recognized youth groups, such as Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, will continue to be exempt from the fees. And groups with events already scheduled for this year will not see increases.

A wide variety of groups use the fairgrounds throughout the year, said Bill Bell, county building and grounds director.

“We have everything from family reunions to horse and dog shows to quilting shows,” he said.

Here are some of the rental fee changes Douglas County commissioners could approve at their March 8 meeting.

Building 1

Proposed

Weekday six-hour blocks, $40

Weekend, per hour, $10

Kitchen, free

Deposit, $100

Current

$20 per six-hour block or $30 all day

Optional use of kitchen, plus $10 per day

Building 2

Proposed

Weekday six-hour blocks, $40

Weekend hourly, $10

Deposit, $100

Current

$20 for six-hour blocks

$30 all day

Building 21, south half

Proposed

Weekday six-hour blocks, $80

Weekend, hourly, $20

Deposit, $100

Current

$40 per six-hour block

$60 all day

Optional use of kitchen, $15 per day

Building 21, north half

Proposed

Weekday six-hour blocks, $80

Weekend, hourly, $20

Kitchen, $15

Deposit, $100

Current

$40 per six-hour block, or $60 per day

Kitchen, $15

Arena

Proposed

Daily, $350

Saturdays, Sundays, $400 each

Open ride, $15

$15 per hour for setup

Deposits: $1,500 for nine to 12 months in advance

$1,000 for six to nine months in advance

$500 for less than six months in advance

Current

$300 per day for non-commercial use

$600 per day for commercial use