By KEVIN WALKER
Michigan Correspondent
 
DETROIT, Mich. — The state fair in Michigan’s largest city appears to be off for 2010, but the good news is the state fair in the Upper Peninsula is alive and well, if not better than ever.

Perhaps to the surprise of some legislators, Gov. Jennifer Granholm was able to line-item veto budget appropriations for the longstanding state fair in Detroit as well as its smaller counterpart in Escanaba, located in the Upper Peninsula, in Delta County.

Last year the state House passed a resolution urging the governor to keep the state fair operating: “the now 164 acres that comprise the State Fairgrounds provide space for a number of ... activities,” the resolution states. “The Joe Dumars Fieldhouse, Detroit Equestrian Club, Little Caesar’s Hockey Program and the Youth Connection have a presence on the Fairgrounds. Other activities are hosted on the fairgrounds, including dog and horse shows, auto swap meets, car shows, the Shrine Circus and birthday and wedding parties.

“This state-owned land provides a significant agricultural presence in the Detroit area, as the Michigan State Fair Authority Board promotes the fairgrounds as a family centered destination for education and recreation … (W)e urge the Governor and the Department of Agriculture to keep the Michigan State Fair operating ...”

Despite this and the appropriation of dollars for both it and the U.P. state fair, Granholm was able to cut out the appropriations for these events.

The latest news about the fairgrounds in Detroit is that it could become a Huron-Clinton Metroparks Authority (HCMA) property. The HCMA is a special park district in southeastern lower Michigan. Rumors have been floating about the possibility.

“We are in an evaluative stage right now,” said Jayne Miller, executive director of the HCMA. “We are providing information to the (HCMA) board for their May meeting. I don’t know if the board will make a decision in May or not about whether to lease the property.

“In order to serve the people of Detroit and surrounding neighborhoods, we want to find out what people would want the park to look like. At this point I don’t think there will be a fair this year.”

State Sen. Buzz Thomas (D-Detroit), whose district includes the state fairgrounds, issued a letter to his constituents in February discussing the issue:

“Like me, you might be hearing in the media that the governor is seriously considering opening the state fairgrounds to the Huron-Clinton Metroparks,” the letter states. “Although we are still waiting on the details, I wanted to let you know that I will be watching this development closely. ... I support the concept of turning the state fairgrounds into a Metropark, but it must be more than just happy talk coming out of the governor’s office.”

Meanwhile, developments with the U.P. state fair have been going much better. Last August the governor turned over the 122-acre U.P. fairgrounds site in Escanaba to Delta County for $1. It was the best deal the county ever received for a piece of land, said Vicky Micheau, director of the Delta County Chamber of Commerce, which is now managing the fair.

“The state is absolutely out of the business of funding the fair,” she said. “There will be exhibitors’ premiums, but just not funded by the state.”

She said that there is now $910,000 in the bank for the U.P. state fair for 2010, which is scheduled for Aug. 16-22. Micheau said they have taken in $50,000 in rents, $40,000 from fair-related activities and additional dollars from camping fees, as well as fair entrance fees.

She said the anticipated expenses for the 2010 state fair amount to $820,000.

“If the trends continue, we will exceed that $910,000,” Micheau said. “Our premium book will be in the hands of our exchange by May 15. We’re making our grandstand announcements next week. That’s about two weeks ahead of schedule.”