Over 300 building violations found at DuPage fairgrounds

DuPage County Fair organizers vow the annual event will continue without interruption, despite the discovery of more than 300 building code violations inside multiple structures at the fairgrounds in Wheaton.

The city this month ordered officials to close most of the structures on the 42-acre site along Manchester Road after building inspectors discovered the violations.

Representatives of the DuPage County Fair Association - the nonprofit entity that plans and runs the five-day fair - say they've been working with Wheaton officials to resolve the issues.

As of Friday, the livestock buildings, grandstand and several smaller structures remained closed.

Fair association Treasurer Jim McGuire said most of the other buildings have reopened and "we are continuing operations as normal. We will have the fair in July."

Wheaton building inspectors found the violations in September during an inspection requested by the county, which owns the site next to its government complex.

DuPage sought the inspection because a task force of business officials and industry experts was exploring whether the county should continue leasing the site to the fair association.

The site is leased to the association for $1,375 a year. The deal is set to expire in 2020.

On Friday, the real estate assessment task force's findings were released by the county. As part of that report, the advisory panel expressed concern that the fair association is operating "beyond the original scope and intent of the lease."

The report also mentions the results of Wheaton's inspection.

"The county should continue to work with the city of Wheaton and the DuPage County Fair Association to assure proper compliance with not only the lease, but with life safety, regulatory and zoning regulations," according to the report.

The task force claims "significant changes or improvements" to the buildings on the fairgrounds are required for the fair to continue operating on the property. Those improvements are estimated to cost "in excess of $2 million," according to the task force.

McGuire acknowledged the association doesn't have $2 million to spend on building improvements. The county doesn't have the money, either.

Nevertheless, county board Chairman Dan Cronin said he's concerned about the "dilapidated condition" of the buildings and the infrastructure at the fairgrounds.

"My primary responsibility is to make sure that we have a facility that is safe for families and for the residents of the county and beyond," Cronin said.

Wheaton City Manager Don Rose said many of the violations at the site were "very minor" while others were "more substantial."

"There were certain buildings that we posted as nonhabitable," he said. "They (the fair association) have corrected the major violations in some of those buildings and can occupy them. There are other buildings they can't use until additional work is done."

Fair association officials have until next month to present a plan to Wheaton for how repairs will be made. They also have a March 16 deadline to resolve what the city is calling "high importance code violations."

"Everything tagged (closed) at the moment are only seasonal buildings," McGuire said. "We addressed the concerns on the buildings that we use."

Major problems with the closed grandstand building include deteriorated handrails, unsecured guard rails and a section of the bleachers in disrepair.

"The grandstand will be our biggest issue," said McGuire, adding the association is seeking a cost estimate for repairs.

In the meantime, Cronin said the problems with the buildings will have "a significant impact" on the discussion about the future of the fair and fairgrounds.

The county board's public works/facilities committee next month is expected to review the real estate assessment task force's report. County board members on that panel then will develop recommendations for the full county board to consider.

If the county board decides that another use is needed for the fairgrounds, a new spot for the fair would need to be found.

As part of its report, the task force said the fairgrounds may be most appropriate for "some type of recreational facilities combining indoor and outdoor activities managed under a lease agreement." That may allow for some type of public-private sector housing development. It also could allow some activities that happen at the fairgrounds to continue, according to the report.