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<p style="font-weight:bold; display: inline; line-height:150%; font-size: 115%;">P.O. BOX 6015 <br />COLUMBIA, MO 65205</p></div>
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<p style="font-size: 150%; font-weight: bold;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</p>
<p style="font-size: 120%; margin-top: -5px; font-weight:bold;">December 12, 2019</p>
<p style="float:right; font-weight:bold; margin-bottom: 25px; font-size: 100%; text-align:right;">CONTACT: Fred Parry
<br />Southern District Commissioner
<br />County of Boone
<br />573.886.4305
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<br />Steven Sapp
<br />Community Relations Director
<br />City of Columbia
<br />573.874.7257
<br />Steven.Sapp@CoMo.gov</p>
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<div style="font-size: 110%; line-height:150%;"><h1 style="clear:both; margin-top: 75px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-size: 130%;">Boone County to transfer ownership of fairground property to City of Columbia</h1>
<div class="content"><span style="padding-left: 50px;">(COLUMBIA, MO)</span> - <p style="display:inline;">Officials from Boone County and the City of Columbia announced Thursday, Dec. 5 that they have reached an agreement to transfer ownership of the Boone County Fairgrounds from Boone County to the City of Columbia. A Memorandum of Understanding must now be approved by the Boone County Commission and the Columbia City Council. </p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Highlights of the Memorandum of Understanding include:</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">-Transfer of 135.9 acres from the County to the City via a special warranty deed. No cash will be exchanged between the two parties.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">-City of Columbia agrees to convert the property into a recreation complex that will benefit all of the residents of Boone County. Park planning staff will solicit public input for the final design, but the new park could fulfill existing needs including six synthetic multi-sport turf fields, an 8-lane track and field area, four baseball/softball diamonds, two picnic shelters, an inclusive playground for children and adults of all abilities and a 29-acre agricultural park that could become the permanent home of the annual Boone County Fair. The rendering of these amenities is for demonstration purposes only. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">-City of Columbia will be responsible for the maintenance of the MKT Trail currently being maintained by the County, providing trail users with a single point of contact regarding special events or maintenance issues. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">-City of Columbia will honor existing leases with Veterans United Home Loans and United Parcel Service (UPS).</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">-Boone County will retain ownership of the separate 53.6-acre tract that fronts the northbound lanes of Highway 63 across from the existing fairgrounds.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">-Boone County first purchased the fairgrounds from the Boone County Agricultural and Mechanical Society in 1999. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Boone County and Columbia officials had this to say about the agreement:</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"Taxpayers expect government to work together. Today's cooperating agreement is the first step to develop this regional asset as an economic engine for sports tourism in Columbia and Boone County," said Columbia Mayor Brian Treece. "The agreement integrates our trail system for the benefit of users and taxpayers."</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"This is a great outcome for the citizens of Boone County," Boone County Presiding Commissioner Dan Atwill said. "The opportunity to leverage the City’s vast experience in parks planning for this large tract of land creates a public asset that will be enjoyed by generations of Boone Countians."</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"This is a terrific opportunity to provide a regional park to the residents of Columbia and Boone County. The development of this property will enhance our ability to attract regional and statewide sporting events," Columbia City Manager John Glascock said. "This also serves as a strong indication of just how much progress has been made in the improvement of relationships between the City and County. The act of transferring ownership of the Fairgrounds to the City of Columbia is something that speaks volumes about how far we’ve come in our efforts to provide efficient and cooperative services."</span></p></div>
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<div style="margin-top: 15px; margin-bottom: 20px; text-align:center;"><p>City of Columbia Vision<br>
<em>Columbia is the best place for everyone to live, work, learn and play.</em></p>
<p>City of Columbia Mission<br>
<em>To serve the public through democratic, transparent and efficient government.</em></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">-30-</p>
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