3/27/2025

BESSEMER – Last night the Gogebic County Board of Commissioners voted 5-2 to turn over the Gogebic County Fairgrounds to the “Friends of the Fair” to operate. The Friends of the Fair will not just operate the Annual County Fair, they will operate the entire Fairgrounds and have the authority to use them for a variety of uses including Winter Storage, the rental income of the space presently rented by the UP-Tourist Bureau, The Winter Snowmobile Olympus and other events they see fit. They will also receive the income for all uses of the property. The Friends of the Fair will pay for utilities for the Fairgrounds and will maintain the needed insurance for events. The county will also give them $10,000 annually to assist. Taxpayers will foot the bill for the repair of the buildings that were damaged over the last 3 years, Lawn care this season and will also have to maintain insurance on the property to protect the interests of the county. The county can cancel the deal upon 3-4 months’ notice and the Friends of the Fair also can cancel with the same notice. The Commissioners who voted against the Friends of the Fair Proposal were Republicans Joe Cayer and Dan Wood. Cayer saying that he supports the County Fair but not the deal for the entire fairgrounds.”  Wood, saying on the record that he supports the Fair and supports the Friends of the Fair to take on the Annual Fair. But not them having year-round control of the property.  Both Cayer and Wood campaigned for their seats on the board to save the Gogebic County Fair.