Study shows benefits to G.I. from move of State Fair

Bringing the Nebraska State Fair to Grand Island in 2010 would create a $64.5 million economic impact that would more than offset the community’s $8.5 million investment. That’s among the conclusions of a new economic impact analysis by the Grand Island Area Chamber of Commerce. According to the analysis, the proposed $40 million construction is expected to employ 565 people.

The indirect and induced impacts — the spin-off effects — are projected to add 142 and 197 jobs, respectively, primarily in food service, health care, architectural and engineering services, and employment support. Overall, the total impact from the construction and site development will result in 904 additional jobs in Hall County.

State Fair Petition Drive Fails To Get Necessary Signatures

A petition drive aimed at keeping the State Fair in Lincoln has failed to gather the signatures needed to put the issue on the November ballot. FairVoteNebraska.com announced Wednesday morning it had failed to gather the signatures necessary to get a referendum on the November ballot. The group is seeking to repeal LB1116, a new state law that moves the fair to Grand Island and clears the way for the University of Nebraska to build a research and development campus on the grounds. To make the November ballot, the group needed to get 60,000 valid signatures from 5% of registered voters in 38 counties.

State fair one step closer to moving to Grand Island’

Nebraska’s Legislature gave second-round approval April 9 to a bill that would relocate the Nebraska State Fair from Lincoln to Grand Island. Introduced by Bayard Sen. Philip Erdman, LB1116 would move the state fair to Grand Island’s Fonner Park by 2010 and create a State Fair Relocation Cash Fund to collect contributions for the move. The $42 million cost to rebuild the fair would be shared as follows: $21.5 million from the University of Nebraska; $8.5 million from Grand Island; $7 million from the Nebraska State Fair Board; and $5 million from the State of Nebraska.

The bill contains provisions of LB1115, an Erdman bill that would change the makeup of the State Fair Board by redefining the qualifications for the four appointed members representing the business community to provide that three of them be selected from congressional districts and one be selected to represent Grand Island’s business community. Erdman explained that a group called Vision 2015, comprising Lincoln business and civic leaders, first proposed moving the state fair in 2006 to allow the current fairgrounds to be developed by UNL into a public-private partnership research park.

Erdman said the Legislature’s Agriculture Committee worked with a consultant to help determine the most suitable amenities and location for the state fair. Civic and business leaders from Grand Island proposed moving the fair to Fonner Park to capitalize on its recently completed Heartland Events Center. A technical amendment was adopted 39-0 and LB1116 advanced to final reading by voice vote.

Bill to move State Fair to get another look

Lawmakers will have a chance to reconsider whether the State Fair should move to Grand Island. A bill (LB1116) that is up for a second round vote on Wednesday calls for the fair to move to Grand Island by 2010. That would allow the current fairgrounds in Lincoln to become home to a mix of public and private research facilities supporters say will spur job growth.

Lawmakers voted 44-3 to give first-round approval to the bill last week. The move to Grand Island would cost about $42 million. About half the money would come from the University of Nebraska, which plans to develop the research park. The city of Grand Island would pitch in more than $8 million, the State Fair board $7 million, and the state $5 million.

Western Nebraska road repair delays blamed on costs

The needs of the Nebraska Department of Roads continue to be many despite a decrease in state funds. Craig Lind, Nebraska Dept. of Roads District 5 engineer, told the Gering Business Club on Wednesday that creative solutions are needed to deal with the demands for road repairs or new highways when there continues to be less money available for such projects. Lind said the way Nebraska taxes and supports highway construction will probably have to change because of the use of fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles and those that use alternative fuels.

Nebraska roads projects are funded, in part, with proceeds from fuel taxes, and that money has continued to decline as motorists drive fewer miles because of increased fuel costs. Lind said in fiscal year 2008, the district would have about $18.2 million in funding available for projects, and projections indicate that number might be cut to $12 million in fiscal year 2009.

With increases across the board for materials and other fixed costs, not as much work can be done as in the past. The cost of asphalt, for example, has increased from $120 a ton to $470 a ton.

Petition filed to repeal law moving Nebraska State Fair

Nebraskans may be able to vote on whether to move the state fair from its longtime home in Lincoln to Grand Island. A referendum petition to repeal a new state law authorizing the move was filed Monday with the Secretary of State’s office. The Grand Island Independent reports that seven people from Omaha and Lincoln filed the petition.

To get the referendum on the November ballot, about 60,000 signatures would need to be collected. According to the Secretary of State’s Web site, petitions to repeal a state law are valid if the signatures are received within 90 days of the adjournment of the Legislative session.

Lawmakers finished their work on April 17, which means the signatures are due in mid-July. In April, Gov. Dave Heineman signed legislation that will move the Nebraska State Fair to Grand Island by 2010. The law was the culmination of months of deal-making between parties interested in having the fair, state officials and UNL.

Nebraska Unicameral Speaker: It Was A Good Session

The 2008 Nebraska legislative session was successful, said Speaker of the Legislature Mike Flood of Norfolk. Funding for state roads was a contentious item, due to record high gasoline prices. The Unicameral transfered $14.5 million from the general fund for road projects. Those dollars will be matched by approximately $75 million in federal funds.

Sen. Flood said: “It’s a tough time for people, we recognize that. We didn’t want to make it any worse than we had to. At the same time, we maintained quality infrastructure across the state.” Flood added: “I think that the method of execution will be an issue next session.” The Unicameral will reconvene next January.

Area state senators reflect on Legislative session’s top issues

The second session of the 100th Nebraska Legislature was a short one, but it was jam-packed with big issues. Topics like highway funding and the future of the State Fair dominated discussion during the session, which ended Thursday. The Independent caught up with four Central Nebraska senators Dist. 33 Sen. Carroll Burling of Kenesaw, Dist. 35 Sen. Ray Aguilar of Grand Island, Dist. 41 Sen. Vickie McDonald of St. Paul and Dist. 34 Sen. Annette Dubas of Fullerton to find out their thoughts on Legislature’s hot topics this year.

Each of the four lawmakers was generally happy with the way their colleagues spent the state’s $475 million cash reserve. The state dipped into the reserve to move the State Fair, match federal funds for roads and pay Republican River irrigators. But the overall amount used was dwarfed by the amount legislators chose to save, something that pleased the area’s senators, who advised setting aside money for tougher economic times. None of the area’s senators were particularly excited about the Legislature’s compromise of using cash reserves to help match federal highway funds after Gov. Dave Heineman vetoed an increase in the state’s gas tax.

McDonald, Burling and Aguilar said they’d prefer to fund the roads primarily through a user fee, like a gas tax, which those passing through the state would help pay. In Central Nebraska, the Legislature’s true big-ticket item was its decision to move the State Fair to Grand Island. Naturally, all four senators were enthusiastic about the opportunity for the area. Dubas, on the other hand, acknowledged some surprise, even though she was a member of the Agriculture Committee that helped craft the bill. “I didn’t see it coming,” she said. “I really didn’t think the State Fair would leave Lincoln.”

Nebraska lawmakers give final approval to State Fair move

A proposal to move the State Fair to Grand Island now awaits the signature of Gov. Dave Heineman. Lawmakers gave final round approval on Wednesday to a bill (LB1116) that calls for the fair to move to Grand Island by 2010. That would let the current fairgrounds in Lincoln become home to a mix of public and private research facilities that will be overseen by the University of Nebraska. Supporters say it will spur job growth.

The move to Grand Island would cost about $42 million. About half the money would come from the University of Nebraska, which plans to develop the research park. The city of Grand Island would pitch in more than $8 million, the State Fair board $7 million, and the state $5 million.

State Fair bill signing in G.I. tentatively rescheduled

The final reading and vote for LB1116, the bill that would move the Nebraska State Fair to Grand Island by 2010, has been scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.

The bill has been put on the schedule for Wednesday’s session, which will begin at 1:30 p.m. Assuming the bill passes through the final round, Heineman’s office has said the governor will make a trip to Grand Island’s Fonner Park at about 11 a.m. Friday.