Work continues to repair Floyd County Fairgrounds

By Kelly Terpstra, kterpstra@charlescitypress.com

Busted concrete — the final remnants of what’s left of the dairy barn’s floor — was scooped up by Jim Kisch’s excavator at the Floyd County Fairgrounds on Thursday.

The demolition work being done by Kisch Excavating on the property just outside the Charles City limits is winding down.

There could be more on the way.

Rewind to the morning of Memorial Day and the structure that houses show animals stood tall, awaiting yet another Floyd County Fair to commence come mid-July.

That was before the EF-1 tornado ripped through the grounds and demolished four buildings. Four more buildings are to be inspected by a structural engineer some time next week, according to Floyd County Fair Board Treasurer Craig Anderson.

The damage caused by the tornado will at least be in the six figure-range, if not seven.

“I think it’s going to be one side or the other of a million by the time it’s all said and done,” said Anderson.

It’s been a busy month for engineers across the state to determine damage that has been caused by a bevy of twisters that ravaged Iowa during much of May.

That includes Charles City.

The tornado touched down shortly after noon and barrelled into buildings on the fairgrounds and left several homes in heaping piles in its 7-mile path of destruction along a northwest corridor on the outskirts of Charles City.

Turned to rubble by the tornado were the brick building, often referred to as Heritage Hall. Ironically, the building was used as a storm shelter for many years to take cover from inclement or dangerous weather.

The other three buildings that were totaled and have since been demolished are the white building that housed the “Little Hands on the Farm” exhibit during the fair; the dairy barn, which housed calves and goats, among other animals; and the hoop building right next to it.

The good news is that an insurance adjuster that came out to the fairgrounds to assess damage a few days after the tornado wreaked havoc on the property said all the buildings will be covered. Anderson did say that some personal items, like tables and chairs that were located in the brick building, won’t be covered.

Even better news is the fair is still scheduled to be run July 17-21.

“We’re going to do everything in our power to have it be as good as we can this year, and then better going forward is what we’re aiming for,” said Anderson.

Amy Staudt, Floyd County Fair Board president, said there may be a big tent set up for acts at the fair that normally would have been inside the brick building.

The issue at hand is whether four other structures on site are going to be deemed sound enough to not have to be torn down.

“Our first priority is obviously the safety of everyone who is going to be out at the fairgrounds. We need to make sure the buildings that are still there can be used,” said Staudt.

Those buildings are the ones that house the 4-H food stand and the fair office, the beef and swine barn, the horse arena crow’s nest and the horticulture building.

The engineer will have the final say-so on the future of those dwellings.

Anderson said, “From there we’ll develop kind of a short-term plan as to the steps we’re going to take to have a successful fair this year. Then in August, we’re going to get together and have a meeting and put together our long-range plan. Hopefully by then we’ll have an idea of where we’re at on all the structures.”

Also casualties of the 110 mph winds that struck the fairgrounds were several trees. Anderson said an ash tree that had stood between the brick building and white building for decades had been uprooted.

“At some point you wonder what its future was going to be anyway,” said Anderson.

Three other fairly mature trees by the courtyard and near the beef and swine barn were also wiped out. Many smaller trees on a fence line also suffered extensive damage and will need to be removed and replaced.

Anderson said he has been in discussion with City Administrator Steve Diers about possibly acquiring trees that sit on the wastewater treatment plant’s property. There are approximately 4,500 trees of various species on the site that will need to be removed for construction of the new wastewater treatment plant.

The city is looking to sell off the trees. Whether they would be purchased by the fair board or donated isn’t clear.

“I’ve been in touch with Steve on that. I think we’ll have an avenue there,” said Anderson.

Anderson said he has been in contact with numerous people who have called and are willing to help out or donate their time to rebuild and repair what has been destroyed.

“I’ve been in touch with some people that have called pretty much out of the blue saying, ‘Hey, we want to support you, what do you need?’ type of thing,” said Anderson.