by Kristina Gabalski
With the Monroe County Legislature’s approval June 11 of the re-location of the Monroe County Fair to Northampton Park in Ogden, County Legislator Robert Colby, who represents Ogden and lives and farms near the park, wants to reassure residents that the event that is coming to Northampton is, “… not what’s (been) in Henrietta. We are re-inventing the fair as a festival and celebrating agriculture and youth in today’s world,” he told the Suburban News and Hamlin-Clarkson Herald.
Colby said he regrets that more complete information did not reach residents earlier in the process, but the event will be on county park land – not town land – and park officials were adamant that the same procedures and format be used as are used for other festivals held in county parks, such as the Lilac Festival.
“The Monroe County Fair and Recreation Association (of which Colby is a member) did not challenge (the county’s procedure),” Colby explained, “but, the better people understand (what is planned)… those concerns do go away. It was a mistake not making sure people understood what went on in Henrietta is not coming here.”
Prior to the June 11 full legislature vote, Colby said 15 legislators from both parties toured the Northampton site.
“They were given the opportunity to ask questions and listen to Fair Association and county parks officials,” Colby said. “The legislature has done due diligence,” he added and, “… understood the whole project.”
The legislature’s Recreation and Education committee also held a public forum on the referral two weeks before the vote, Colby said. Two people spoke – one for and one against the move, he said.
The move has sparked significant concern and opposition by neighbors of the park who say they were kept in the dark about the move until just before it came before the legislature. Concerns focus on issues like noise, air and ground pollution, traffic and a continuing lack of trust.
Lack of trust that the fair would not expand to a carnival atmosphere, and “…as to the number of times the new park services will be used for events each year,” Monroe County Legislator Cynthia Kaleh told Westside News Inc. following a public forum June 5. Some residents opposed to the Northampton site have threatened to sue.
Colby counters that the fair is getting back to a family event and with the legislature’s approval, a formal agreement can now be finalized and signed between the county and the Fair Association.
The contract will set limits on things like amusement rides (which officials have said will be scaled back to kiddie-rides) and hours of operation of the fair.
The Fair Association won’t own or take over the site, Colby explained. The county will complete the improvements and, “… the Fair Association will reimburse the cost … there will not be a cost to local taxpayers,” he said. New shelters will also be available to the public for rental, Colby added.
Improvements to the park this year include clearing of about five more acres of land – the fair will take up 25 of the 900 acres in the park; putting in a driveway for exhibitors, fencing-in an area for a horse riding arena with a prepared riding ground, and removing topsoil for the tractor pull.
Three lodges would be built in 2014, Colby anticipates, and says this year, tents will be used to house show animals, a stage for events like the 4-H clothing review and presentations, and also for showing additional 4-H projects.
He added that there will be no demolition derby and the fair will not affect activities in the park such as soccer, the ski slope, sledding, and similar park uses.
Because the fair will be set in a farming community, 4-Hers will be able to, “do a better job of interacting with their projects,” Colby said.
Several local farm market vendors have been invited at no charge, to sell their wares and produce at the fair, further strengthening the tie between local agriculture and the event, Colby said. Additionally, local service organizations and community groups such as Kiwanis and the Lions Club, will have first access to food vending spots, enabling them to fundraise by running a booth at the fair. Local food vendors will also have priority.
“We are trying to support local community groups and local vendors,” Colby said. “We want to engage the community.”
The fair is set for August 1 through 4.
