Kewaunee County passes on land purchase to expand fairgrounds By Kevin Boneske News-Chronicle The Kewaunee County Fairgrounds in Luxemburg won't be expanding anytime soon. The county's Finance and Public Property Committee decided Thursday to go along with a recommendation from the Promotion and Recreation Committee to pass on purchasing six acres of village-owned land adjacent to the fairgrounds' western edge in Luxemburg's industrial park. The property, including improvements, has been offered to the county by the village for $222,668. Algoma Sup. Jim Barlow, a Promotion and Recreation member, briefed the Finance members on his committee's recommendation. The proposed purchase price, more than $37,000 an acre, didn't sit well with the Finance members, who claimed a private party could pay less to obtain the property. County Administrator Ed Dorner said that was the case because the county wouldn't pay any property taxes, while the village could assess a private party. County Promotion and Recreation Department director Mark Kanz, who did not attend Thursday's meeting, said there is no plan in place for the county to obtain additional property for future fairgrounds use. But he noted that the property to the west is about the only land available to enlarge the fair's acreage. "Once it's gone, it's gone," Kanz said. The possible sale of land next to the fair has been pending for years. The village agreed to give the county the opportunity to purchase the land, prior to selling the parcel to another party. The village has another party - identified during the meeting as Forest Construction - interested in purchasing the northerly 277 feet of the lot and, as a result, gave the county until early October to decide whether it wanted to buy the land. Village engineer Don Miller, who also didn't attend Thursday's meeting, said the portion being looked at for purchase includes about two of the six acres, plus an additional acre not bordering the fairgrounds. Finance chairman Chuck Wagner said the two acres are in the general area next to the fairgrounds' horse ring. He also noted the remaining four acres include land previously used for off-road races at the fairgrounds. The Finance and Public Property Committee agreed to seek a right of first refusal from the village for the possible purchase of the other four acres. But Village President Lyle Jandrin, contacted Friday following the committee meeting, said he would be inclined to give a right of first refusal for remaining land to a party who purchased a portion of it. He pointed out, however, that was his opinion, which didn't necessarily reflect the wishes of the Village Board. When asked about a possible selling price to Forest Construction, Jandrin said the village has received no offer from the company to purchase the land, while the price the property could sell for is subject to negotiations. He acknowledged, however, a selling price to the company wouldn't be as high as to the county, from which the village intended to recover its costs without being able to yield property tax revenue. "It sure won't be full price," Jandrin said. Considering the village would receive tax revenue based upon the value of property after it is developed, Jandrin said what Forest Construction would want to build on the land would affect the purchase price.