The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

DAYTON—Last week the Columbia County Board of Commissioners decided to hold off on mid-October plans to start demolition of the east grandstand at the county fairgrounds, pending a proposal from a group of about 20-25 local people calling themselves the Columbia County Friends of the Fairgrounds.

Each person on the committee has an area(s) of overlapping or special concern regarding the county’s recently drafted Facilities Improvement Plan.

For Lee Ann Literal, the plan to demolish the east grandstand, at a cost of $40,000, figures large on her list.

She said the committee has discussed getting an inspection and recommendation from Rick Nicely and Beau Sabin of Pillars of Society Woodworking, with the hope that the historical nature of the grandstands can be preserved while meeting current standards for ADA accessibility.

For years, the fairground facilities have been allowed to deteriorate because of a lack of interest and lack of funding for improvements, Literal said.

Also, the demise of Dayton Days, along with the recent increase in horse stall rental fees is making Literal nervous about the future of horse culture in the county, which could especially impact participation by youth. Literal said she is in the process of forming a 4-H club in horsemanship for a group of 8-13 year olds.

“This is just a neat old fairground, Literal said. “We need to market that facility. It could be a real going concern.”

About 15 members of the CCFFG met last Thursday evening to hammer out a mission statement, discuss by-laws, elect officers, and begin drafting a letter of introduction to the Board of County Commissioners.

The CCFFG will meet next at 7 p.m., on Thurs., Oct. 19, in the Delany Room at the library. For more information contact Dawn Rodriguez by phone at: (509) 301-0588, or by email at: dawnrenee229@gmail.com.