Central Indiana county fair at risk over unsafe grandstand

MUNCIE, Ind. — A central Indiana county’s annual summertime fair might have to be scaled back if a decision isn’t made soon on replacing its unsafe fairgrounds grandstand.

Work to replace the 3,000-seat grandstand must begin by early February to have the new structure ready before the Delaware County Fair in July, fair board President Jim Mansfield told the county commissioners on Monday.

Without the grandstand at the fairgrounds in Muncie, Mansfield said organizers might only be able to plan for 4-H youth activities, The Star Press reported.

“To conduct the fair as we know it, we need to begin the process by the first of February,” Mansfield said.

County officials closed the grandstand three weeks ago after an inspection found numerous safety problems with the bleachers, including spots where the steel superstructure had rusted through, support plates hovered above their bases and wood and asphalt bases that had collapsed.

The inspection was ordered after strong winds blew outdoor stage rigging onto fans at the Indiana State Fair in August, killing seven people and injuring dozens more.

Commissioners President Todd Donati denied “speculation” that officials had “refused to replace the grandstands even though we knew they were deficient.”

“We were not aware of their condition,” Donati said.

Mansfield said the county inspected the grandstand several years ago and that a fairgrounds employee had checked it each year until this year, when that worker retired.

Donati said there would be a grandstand for next year’s fair, although officials are trying to find the perhaps $900,000 needed to demolish and replace the current seating.

“We are committed to moving this project forward,” he told fair board members. “One way or the other, you will have grandstands.”