Lawsuit to Stop State Fair's Move Dismissed

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Updated: 11:01 PM Jun 27, 2009 Lawsuit to Stop State Fair's Move Dismissed Lincoln State Fair officials say construction can begin now that a Lancaster County judge has dismissed a lawsuit meant to stop the State Fair's move from Lincoln to Grand Island. Posted: 5:33 PM Jun 27, 2009 Reporter: KOLNKGIN Email Address: desk@kolnkgin.com

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A Lancaster County judge has dismissed a lawsuit meant to stop the State Fair's move from Lincoln to Grand Island.

The suit claimed the Legislature's action to relocate the fair is unconstitutional. But District Judge John Colborn disagreed in a 15-page ruling issued Friday. That means there are no barriers for moving the fair to Grand Island in 2010, after more than a century in the Capital City.

State Fair Director Joe McDermott said now construction can get underway.

"If the lawsuit had been favorable for the defendants then yes that could have been a bit of a problem. It would have delayed if not stop completely the move of the fair to Grand Island," said McDermott.

The fair must move to open up State Fair Park to the University of Nebraska - Lincoln, which will build a high tech research corridor known as Innovation Campus.

The Fair's move has one more technical hurdle to jump. The Nebraska Department of Administrative Services must certify that all the money to build the fairgrounds is in place by July 1st.

Latest Comments

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Lincoln on Jul 1, 2009 at 12:13 PM

Peggy just think of it in detail. The attendance numbers were going up and I don't think that GI can support it for very long. Crime will probably go up and they won't want it anymore.

Posted by: Peggy on Jun 30, 2009 at 08:49 AM

I guess this just goes to show you if people in Lincoln don't get what they want they just pout. We drove from Hastings to Lincoln several years for the state fair. Do you think that was fare? Now the ball is in the other hand and all you people can do is whine. Well get over it. I think Grand Island will make a real try at makeing the fair a hugh success after all look what they have done with Husker Harvest Days and Live horse racing. Their buildings are in better shape and the fans keep coming. Also I think more people from the western half of the state will come.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Lincoln on Jun 29, 2009 at 02:41 PM

I don't even think folks in GI want it because of the taxes.

Posted by: Bailey Location: Lincoln on Jun 29, 2009 at 01:26 PM

I find this sad - power trips at their best. The reason we are not asked to vote or give our public opinion is because they are dead-set in their ways, and hearing "no!" would put a damper in their plans. I am a regular attendee and participant in the fair, and I WONT be going to G.I. I have yet to find fellow Nebraskan or participant who feels differently. If they would listen to the public, they would find that nobody is in favor of this decision. And more so - the residents of Grand Island don't even want it! This entire thing is like a death to the State. R.I.P.

Posted by: Jon Location: Lincoln on Jun 29, 2009 at 10:39 AM

Is it really Omaha/Lincoln residents attending the fair? Maybe some fair officials should tally the license plate prefixes in the parking lot. My guess is we'd find more rural visitors, but I've been wrong before.

Posted by: Bulah Location: Lincoln on Jun 28, 2009 at 10:58 PM

Whatever the University wants, the University gets. Period.

Posted by: Mick Location: Southeast NE on Jun 28, 2009 at 09:56 PM

I don't understand why they don't put this up to a vote. Is this not OUR state fair? Seems ridiculous that a few people are deciding this. Instead of spending all of OUR taxpayer money to build new buildings in Grand Island, they should redo some of the buildings in Lincoln. Come on, we're spending millions of dollars...why not improve the existing site that so many people love. It simply will not be the same...I'm not sure we're gonna go when it's in GI, which I have heard from quite few people. It's a shame that some lawmakers are willing to take a chance on our traditions.

Posted by: JEFF Location: York on Jun 27, 2009 at 07:43 PM

I really can't believe that they are moving the State Fair to Grand Island. Lincoln is the State Capital, why wouldn't you have the STATE FAIR at the Capital. Grand Island is as far from me as Lincoln is but I think they are shooting themselves in the foot. 3/4 of the population lives in omaha and Lincoln. They are going to loose a lot of money on this.

Posted by: Terrence Location: Lincoln on Jun 27, 2009 at 06:09 PM

Economically it is completely assinine to move the State Fair to Grand Island. There are not 100,000 people with 60 miles of there. There are 250,000 in Lancaster County alone. It should not move from where it is. But IF it had to move Mead Nebraska is a much better place. Yes tiny Mead Nebraska...which has 1 Million of the states population less than 60 miles away. And the State already owns about 25,000 Acres there. Oh, yah that is where Nebraska International Airport and the New Royals Ballpark shoud be too. And a Ne Husker Football Stadium...Hey and there is romm for "Innovation Campus" there as well too.

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