DuPage County Fair organizers hope to fix code violations by July 1

DuPage County Fair organizers are hoping to resolve all remaining code violations at the county fairgrounds by July 1 - three weeks before the scheduled start of the fair.

The DuPage County Fair Association, the nonprofit group that organizes and runs the five-day fair, has been fixing problems at the fairgrounds ever since Wheaton building inspectors discovered more than 600 violations involving multiple structures on the 42-acre site along Manchester Road.

On Tuesday, a Wheaton official informed members of the DuPage County Board's public works committee that 116 code violations still need to be resolved.

"We're pleased with the progress that's being made," said Joe Kreidl, Wheaton's director of building and code enforcement. "Of those 116 (violations) that are still open, we would like to see (the association) concentrate on those items that are most hazardous."

The county board's public works panel has been getting regular updates about the ongoing work because DuPage owns the fairgrounds and leases the site to the fair association.

Kreidl said there are about 20 "critical" items related to needed electrical and structural repairs.

He said he wants to see all the repairs completed before the city gives permission for the fair, scheduled for July 22-26, to proceed.

Fair association officials, however, say they're confident the issues will be resolved and the fair will go on as planned.

"My target right now is July 1 to have everything done, checked off and inspected," said Jim McGuire, manager of the DuPage County Fair Association. "The next three weeks we'll be fair planning."

In order to reach this point, fair organizers already have agreed not to use the grandstand for event seating because of issues with the handrails and some damage to the concrete surface. Instead, temporary bleachers will be used for the rodeo and demolition derby, which normally use the grandstand.

While part of the grandstand will remain shuttered, officials say the building itself is structurally sound. So its restrooms will be open to the public during the fair.

In the meantime, McGuire is promising to have "beautiful fairgrounds" for the fair.

"Because of the changes we have made to a lot of the buildings, we have a whole different look on Manchester (Road) already," McGuire said. "And we're not done yet.

"It should look sharp," he said. "We're looking forward to inviting everyone out for the fair and celebrating DuPage County on July 22."