Commissioners, Fair Board Getting Fairgrounds Ready
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By MARK EVANS
STE. GENEVIEVE HERALD
With the 2023 county fair rapidly approaching, Ste. Genevieve County commissioners are working with fair board members to get things ready.
Considerable work has been done on the fairgrounds in the past year. First District Commissioner Karen Stuppy reported that Chip Marzuco had been setting things up for last weekend’s Spring For Down Syndrome event. It was agreed that the event would be a “great trial run” to see if the revamped fairgrounds are ready for the fair, including electricity.
“Everything looks good,” Stuppy said, noting that it is “crunch time” for the fair board.
Presiding Commissioner Randy Ruzicka thanked Stuppy for “doing a great job spearheading” the work. Stuppy passed credit on to the new fair board, members of the road and bridge crew, who did much of the fairgrounds work, and to volunteers who helped.
“It was a group effort,” she said.
Ruzicka said people living near the fairgrounds have remarked that it looks better than it has in years.
Stuppy also pointed out that the route of the fair parade is changing this year. It will start in the fairgrounds, as opposed to coming into town from the community center, as it had done for several years.
WALL STAINS BEING CLEANED
Ruzicka spoke with a representative of Bade Roofing about stains that appeared on the community center walls near the swimming pool and running track, following roof work that was done this year.
He was told that the walls were being cleaned that week and that they would be back this Tuesday to make sure the stains were all gone.
Frye Road being paved last week.
PHOTO COURTESY OF RANDY RUZICKA
SUMMER PAVING AT FULL STEAM
Road and Bridge Foreman Scott Schmieder reported on paving progress. He said paving on Frye Road, in the western part of the county, was finished. Stuppy said that was “awesome” and Ruzicka said it “looks really good,” as did Coffman Road.
Nearby Smith, Westover and McDaniel roads are next up.
Meanwhile, Schmieder’s crew has been patching roads and mowing.
He said the three summer helpers were working out well.
He said the boom mower was back in action after repair.
SMITH’S NEW STAFFER INTRODUCES HERSELF
Jodi Williams, new constituent services specialist for US Representative Jason Smith, working out of Farmington, introduced herself to the commissioners.
She said Smith’s staff has been spending a lot of time on helping residents get passports. Providing help with IRS and Social Security issues has also kept them busy.
She said Smith, who is now chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, would be conducting a farm tour this year. It will be later than usual, though, probably August or September.
COURTROOM AC GETS ATTENTION
Shuh and Son’s personnel investigated a problem with the courthouse air conditioning system. Complaints had been received about the upstairs courtrooms every summer. Parts of the courtrooms were too cold and other parts not cool enough.
It was found that coils were clogged up. The system itself was in good order. They also adjusted the courtroom vents.
Notes
• Jeremy Manning of Smith & Company Engineering visited Friday morning to examine courthouse sidewalks. There is hope that a grant may be available to help replace them.
• More paperwork was signed for the Federal Land Access Program (FLAP) grant the county is receiving to replace the circa 1935 Fourth Street bridge by city hall. It expected to be available in 2025, although it is possible it could happen in 2024.
• Attorney Jack Garvey informed the county that another court determination took place on the opioid settlement against Perdue Pharma and others. The county is projected to receive $419,872, distributed over 20 years.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF KAREN STUPPY AND RANDY RUZICKA