Rock County fair board seeks funding for portable stage

Rock County Commissioners unanimously agreed to invest nearly $46,000 in a portable elevated stage for use at the Rock County Fair and at other community events.
The city of Luverne will be asked to contribute the other half of the estimated $91,172 for the “Speedy Stage.”
Ag society members Lee Sells and Al Aanenson approached the board April 19 with the portable stage proposal.
“For the last umpteen years … when a band comes in, we are putting together two fifth-wheel trailers butted up to each other to create a stage. Somehow, we rig up some steps to it,” Sells said.
“This stage would meet the majority of the band requirements that we’ve had in the area.”
When folded out, the galvanized steel and aluminum structure will be a 30-by 20-foot stage.
The highway-towable stage opens by hydraulic with transport completed with a pickup truck.
The portable stage is made by the same manufacturer as the ag society’s portable bleachers. The county assisted in the purchase of the three bleacher systems 10 years ago.
Sells said when the bleachers are not in use during the county fair, they are rented out for community use an average of 15 times throughout the year. The stage would be available for rent for similar community uses.
“I think it will be a huge asset for everybody,” Sells said.
Commissioners will pay for the portable stage with federal coronavirus relief dollars.
They also agreed that if the city of Luverne doesn’t partner with the purchase of the portable stage, the county would lend the ag society the rest of the $91,172 cost.
The agreement is similar to the purchase of the portable bleachers, where a portion of the bleacher rent was used to repay the county loan.
 
Other fairgrounds improvements
Sells and Aanenson also outlined upcoming improvement projects that will be completed before the annual county fair July 27-30 this year.
•The Ida Reverts Memorial Hall (Floral Hall) will receive a new asphalt roof and other structural support work inside. The project, funded through the ag society, is estimated at more than $21,000.
•The ag society recently received $40,000 through the Frank Boon Memorial Grant to build a 30-by-50-foot entertainment shelter with a cement floor between the 4-H exhibit hall and the Floral Hall.
It will replace a tent normally used for the outdoor performances and events during the fair.
When the fair is not in session, the shelter will be available for community use.
“This will allow — during the summer, not during the fair — people could rent that area and do anything from a wedding reception to just having a meal,” Sells said.
•The commercial building on the fairgrounds will also undergo a $36,100 facelift that will include replacement tin, roof repairs and new doors.
Commissioners also approved funding the commercial building improvements.
Commissioner Gary Overgaard, who is a member of the ag society, abstained from the vote.