Emporia’s NASCAR driver may have made the Lyon County Commission an offer that will be hard to refuse.
Clint Bowyer’s brother, Casey, and publicist Chip Williams appeared before the commission at a study session this morning, where they presented Clint Bowyer’s offer to pay the cost of a multipurpose building on the Lyon County Fairgrounds. All the county needs to do is agree to donate the land the building would sit on.
The commission could not make a decision this morning; the item will need to be put on the agenda for an action session.
“Right now, we’ve spent some good time and money getting this far with it,” Casey Bowyer said.
The latest offer from Bowyer is another indication of his support and loyalty to the community where he grew up, the men said.
“Clint likes to keep himself grounded and let people know he’s not from the Midwest, he’s not from Kansas,” Williams said. “He wants people to know he’s from Emporia, Kansas.”
Williams said that Bowyer’s vision is to provide “something that is suitable for many options and cover a wide blanket of things.”
The building, in its initial planning stage, would be between 4,000 and 6,000 square feet — likely closer to the latter — for indoor and outdoor use.
In addition to Bowyer’s 79 Fund donating the building to the community, Bowyer would continue to support the building through marketing and advertising, Williams said.
With the county’s blessing, he said, the project would move to the next step, hiring an architect.
Williams estimated the project would cost around $500,000 to complete, if the county will donate the land.
“Once completed, the county will take possession of the building at no cost,” Williams said.
The metal building would have an open floor plan and outside, the rear of the building would open into a theater-style seating area for concerts, barbecues, dinners, movie viewings and other functions. The back side would be either glass or have a roll-up feature, he said.
“We just want to make sure we have the support of the county and the community to move forward,” Williams said. “Then we can go forward and say, ‘These are our options, this is our cost. Can we do it all in one swing? Do we do it in Phase 1, Phase 2, and Phase 3?’”
Williams surmised that the new building could bring thousands of people to Emporia, stimulating the local economy.
In addition to events staged at the new building, it also would be available to local and civic groups, youths and schools, as well as Chamber of Commerce functions, Williams said, giving examples of potential uses.
This latest offer of a major donation is one in a series of donations Bowyer has showered on the area through the 79 Fund, which operates under the umbrella of the Emporia Community Foundation.
His first benefit golf tournament at the Emporia Municipal Golf Course brought in more than $150,000; the following year, the event raised $250,000. He added another $47,000 to the 79 Fund when Coca-Cola donated that amount in honor of Bowyer’s second-place finish in a contest to see which NASCAR driver could be seen raising a Coke bottle the greatest number of times after a race.
The 79 Fund has purchased computers for the Emporia Public Library, a video camera for White Auditorium, $3,500 worth of shoes for children in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, Christmas trees for needy families, a scoreboard for the Emporia Aquatic Club and a time clock for the Jones Aquatic Center, swim mats, school backpacks filled with supplies, free swimming for children for one to two weeks during the summers of 2008 and 2009. Bowyer also has contributed substantially to the Corner House, the Emporia Arts Council, the Emporia Swim Club, the Senior Prom for elderly citizens and Emporia State University athletes, a deer hunt for youths and fireworks for a citywide display.
He also made a personal donation that allowed Camp Alexander to hire a director and is one of several NASCAR drivers who have created the Victory Junction Youth Camp in Kansas City.
The proposed donation for the fairgrounds will be Bowyer’s biggest effort yet.
“Clint wants to build a building on the fairgrounds and give it to the fair board or to the fair to be used for functions that would help build tourism, give them something that hopefully would be financially beneficial to the community and to the fair board,” said Ray Toso, former mayor and city commissioner who currently sits on Bowyer’s 79 Fund’s board of directors.
“He’s been thinking about this for the last couple of years. He wants to get going on it now if he can, so we’ll just have to see whether they’ll allow the plan to go forward.”
Toso said that the county commission would need to approve Bowyer’s gift, and likely would need approval from the Lyon County Fair Board as well.
“It would be a nice place,” Toso said, adding his belief that the new building would be good for the community.
“I think he wants to get started on it real soon, if they’ll allow, so it could be on the fast track — and that’s no pun,” Toso said.
.Improvements at the fairgrounds have been on the minds of fair board members for a number of years.
In the spring of 2005, the fair board began serious planning, with seven long-range goals to develop the present site further, according to Gazette files.
The changes were to be in incremental stages, beginning with a new restroom at the north end of the property at an estimated cost of $70,000 to $75,000. It was in the planning stages and was expected to be finished by the 2005 fair.
The board’s long-range planning committee had intensified its efforts after out-of-town developers had proposed purchasing the fairgrounds to put in a large-scale retail development, with the suggestion that the fairgrounds be moved to an unspecified location outside the city limits.
The fair board rejected that idea and stated it definitely wanted to keep the fairgrounds at its present location. In addition to the board’s wishes, the sale would have been complicated by a stipulation in the E.T. Anderson family’s original donation of the property to be used as a fairgrounds. The paperwork required that if the property were sold, the Salvation Army would receive monies from the sale.
By November 2005, Kelly McMurphy of Landmark Architects had presented two plans to the board — one plan that included a multipurpose arena and another without the arena. Cost estimates ranged from $11 million to $16 million.
The first phase of improvements would have included a new commercial exhibit building with ADA and safety code compliance, renovations to the grandstand, new equipment and fixtures and site work. The ADA requirements would have included significant improvements to make the area more handicap-accessible, such as paving the parking lots and the public access area. The cost estimate was slightly over $4 million.
Phase Two was to include renovations to the beef barn, the Anderson Building and north restroom, and a wash rack. A new barn, show arena, and improvements to equipment and stalls were to be made during this stage, with a total estimated cost of about $3,340,000.
The last phase, at a cost of around $4,296,250, would add a roof covering for the outdoor arena, a feed and bedding barn, and a maintenance building, plus 30 full-service RV hookups and staging room for trucks and trailers.
Phase Three also was to include a new building, the Anderson Complex, which would include a commercial exhibit hall andn space for 4-H exhibits and conference rooms that could be used as a large-scale convention area. The existing building would remain intact and, if needed, improved.
Lack of funding impeded further action on implementing the plans.
outdoorguy (anonymous) says...
"If you build it, they will come!" Sounds like a no brainer winner to me, get it going! thx Clint!
July 7, 2010 at 12:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
solong (anonymous) says...
Fantastic Clint, Emporia needs people like you to revitalize the area. I hope we can come together and make this work.
July 7, 2010 at 3:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
HenryVIII (anonymous) says...
Personally, I'd like to see something on that land that would get used every day. Do we really need another metal shed that only get's used a handful of times a year?
Are we even allowed to go on the fairgrounds when there isn't an event going on? Why is the land desolate 98% of the time?
Thanks for trying to help, Clint. I don't want to sound ungrateful.
'enry
July 7, 2010 at 3:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
TexasGirl (anonymous) says...
Mega-Kudos to Clint for giving back to your community! And I'm sure it would be more than a "metal shed" at $500,000. Yes, the fairgrounds are used at other times than during the fair. I have been to many events at the Anderson building. It is available for private rental when it is not scheduled for county events.
July 7, 2010 at 4:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
neighbor (anonymous) says...
Very generous Clint, Casey and the 79 Fund! Hope this happens, it will benefit many.
How about a major dirt track someday too hint hint! :)
July 7, 2010 at 4:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
chiefsfan (anonymous) says...
Just another reason for me to root for our boy Clint!! It is so great to see someone who has made it "big" who hasn't forgotten his roots. Whether you win or lose on the track, Clint, you are a winner in my eyes!
July 7, 2010 at 7 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
HenryVIII
If you didn't want to sound ungrateful why did you post ?
Perhaps this building will get some usage on more days of the week. Maybe bring people into town?
Metal shed? Have you seen the plans?
COME ON!
We have had enough rain in town , don't need you rainning on Clint's parade.
COULD YOU POST 1 POSITIVE POST ON HERE PLEASE?
July 7, 2010 at 8:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
irishemporia (anonymous) says...
I'd probably agree with Henry if there was no space in Emporia for further development. However, since there seems to be plenty of land for growth, I'd say leave the fairground where it is. That said, the idea of a facility such as the one being proposed should bring more use of the fairground. Thanks, Clint and all those who are investing in Emporia.
July 7, 2010 at 8:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
blulitespecial (anonymous) says...
Young man makes good + Comes back and helps out his town ,many times over = A better place. Many of us here try to do what little they can.Thank you,Clint,for doing what you can!.
July 8, 2010 at 2:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
beatle42 (anonymous) says...
Great idea to enhance the fairgrounds. Kudos to Clint. But on another note this addition will be without the enhancement that the rock sculptures provide to the fairgrounds since the "intelligent" fair board voted to give them to the proposed, idiotic rest stop near the turnpike!
July 8, 2010 at 10:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mlangley5 (anonymous) says...
Corbin:
Have you seen the plans? Is there someplace where we can all see them?
According to the article....
"The metal building would have an open floor plan..."
So it would be nice to see how its different than the Anderson building besides the roll up door that was mentioned.
It sounds like a great project and I am very interested to see how this turns out.
July 8, 2010 at 10:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tosie (anonymous) says...
beatle42 - the fairboard is intellegent. thank you for noticing. Don't knock someone unless you are in their shoes and can understand the hard work that they VOLUNTEER to do ALL YEAR LONG just so you can have nice grounds and a FREE fair. thank you.
July 8, 2010 at 10:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
mlangley5,
well the was a picture showing a sketch of the building in last nights paper. According to the story, plans are not firm yet, so it could end up being anything.
You are correct it is a great idea and opportunity for county residents even if it's a "metal" building, I am sure it will be pleasing to the eye. Thank You Clint!
Also if we could get some big business owners to kick in from 1-10 K each maybe the funds for that convention center could be raised and the fair board could tie it in and have 1 large building to replace those Quonset huts.
July 8, 2010 at 11:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sail (anonymous) says...
WOW. GREAT JOB,thanks
July 8, 2010 at 2:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eiggohp (anonymous) says...
Clint, what a very generous thing this would be for Emporia and the surrounding areas. THANKS, not only for offering this, but the many, many other things you do for this city.
I never even watched a NASCAR race in my life, until you started racing...now if you are there, so are we! Good luck in making the "chase".
July 8, 2010 at 8:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
irishemporia (anonymous) says...
KVOE says the county commission is having a secret meeting to talk about the building. Do we really want our government meeting in secret about public business? How is this even legal?
July 9, 2010 at 8:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Something in addition to the Anderson building would be fantastic and this one sounds great. Thanks, Clint.
July 9, 2010 at 9:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
uhm, maybe it is an executive session? That should be the only way it is done.
July 9, 2010 at 10:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
irishemporia (anonymous) says...
Even an executive session requires them to start in an open meeting, an can only be called for specific reasons, under state law.
July 9, 2010 at 10:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
brokenarrow5 (anonymous) says...
Another place to have weddings, meetings, reunions, maybe concerts.....sounds good for Emporia and Lyon County's economy to me! Remember when people come to an event, they usually fuel up, do some shopping at our shops, and eat!!!
July 19, 2010 at 5:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )