Commercial Building Handicap Accessible After Recent Work Being Completed
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The Blaine County Fairgrounds Commercial Building provides a huge service to the community and has done so for nearly three decades. The building has hosted a number of receptions, banquets, weddings, social events and any other gathering one can think of. "We have several upcoming events on the books for the near future," stated Blaine County Fairboard Fair Manager, Debbie Ramberg. "The Chinook Volunteer Fire Department will use the building as Headquarters for their Annual Coyote Hunt on December 2-4. The Blaine County Wildlife Museum Banquet will be held at the Commercial Building for the first time on Saturday, December 10."
In addition, the building has served a number of community services as place to serve large groups. "The Community Blood Drive was held at the commercial building for the first time in September and plans are for them to continue to use the facility moving forward," said Ramberg. One big reason for the building being able to take on added demand and allow its existence to serve a greater purpose is continued effort to improve the facility.
When it was first constructed it was used primarily as a cold storage facility, eventually improvements were made to add a kitchen, bathrooms and in time a heating system to allow year around use was added. "The kitchen is pretty well stocked with all the pots, pans and utensils that could be needed. We have a big double door fridge, small freezer, ice machine, double ovens with a six burner stove and a flat top," said Ramberg. The equipment is all commercial grade and generally a week is usually provided to renters for use of the facility to set up and clean.
These massive improvements through the years have certainly increased usage, "It was used a lot during Covid for funerals so that people could spread out and keep their distance while still being able to hold a service for their loved one. We didn't charge anything for funeral use during the pandemic," added Ramberg. "The Community Thanksgiving has been held in the building beginning two years ago as take out only and then last year for dine in service as well. The Blaine County Fair foundation Brewfest will be held there the first week of February."
With a building capable of providing all of these services what more could it need? While it has provided a huge service to the community in so many ways, one area it has lacked was being able to properly serve our local wheelchair bound community members. Recently Clausen and Sons out of Havre poured a concrete pad on the southeast corner of the building as well as a sidewalk that follows the building all the way around to the north door entrance. "The pad will serve as new handicap parking and will provide wheelchair access as well. In the near future Clausen and Sons will be back to take out the north door on the east side and make the door furthest south on the east side a handicap accessible door. I suspect it should be completed before the Coyote Hunt the first week of December," added Ramberg.
According to Blaine County Commissioner Frank DePriest funds for the project came directly from the 'American Rescue Plan Act of 2021'. In addition to the work done by Clausen and Sons with Commercial Building DePriest identified a number of other projects being done at the fairgrounds as well with the funds, "We also put the lights up in the parking lot to the east of the commercial building as well as lights over by the PAWS building. Clausen and Sons had the bid for the concrete and handicap access work. Cody Kissner with Rock Bottom Construction is putting up a cable fence around the fairgrounds. Red Power put up the poles and wired all the lights and the supplies came from Northwestern Energy." DePriest added that future plans include, "We are replacing the water line to each food booth so that they each have their own shut off. The line would be buried six feet below ground each food booth would have their own frost free hydrant to hook into. Whenever the hydrant is shut off the water automatically drains back out. Probably next spring before that gets done.
The building is readily available for use by local organizations and community members. In a typical year the facility is rented out 20-25 times a year and if not already spoken for is pretty easy to get access to, "Potential renters need to provide insurance, rent and a deposit to ensure it is returned in the same condition," said Ramberg. "Everything needed is available on our website, http://www.blainecountyfair.net, including the contract. Keypad entry renter is given a code upon lease and then that code is remove after the event."
The Blaine County Commercial building will continue to be used more and more as improvements take shape, "Monies raised goes into the courthouse account and is used to help build our Fair Budget for the following year," said Ramberg. "We have weddings booked into '23 and 24 already." Interested in using the Blaine County Commercial Building, contact Debbie Ramberg at blainecountyfair@gmail.com or reach her on her cell phone, 406-945-3841.
