County considers purchasing Firemen’s Park

An Ozaukee County committee was scheduled to meet in closed session Wednesday morning to discuss the county potentially buying Firemen’s Park in Cedarburg, which adjoins the county fairgrounds.

Firemen’s Park is owned by the Cedarburg Fire Department and is home to the county fair as well as the four Maxwell Street Days flea markets that have helped fund fire department equipment purchases and operations for decades. 

The fire department also stores boats, recreation vehicles, cars and trucks on the site.

The county and fire-department-owned parcels north of downtown Cedarburg are roughly the same size, and when combined each August they form a 39-acre venue for the five-day free county fair.

The nonprofit Ozaukee Agricultural Society operates the Ozaukee County Fair.

The County Board’s Executive Committee, made up of the chairmen of its five standing committees and Chairman Lee Schlenvogt, is scheduled to meet in closed session 10 minutes after the conclusion of the County Board meeting, which begins at 8 a.m.

According to its agenda, the committee is meeting “to discuss a negotiating strategy regarding Ozaukee County’s potential purchase of the 16.18-acre Cedarburg Firemen’s Park parcel, including potential purchase price, terms and negotiating parameters.”

The state open meetings law allows governmental bodies to meet in closed session to negotiate the purchase of public property “whenever competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session.”

The agenda notes the committee may take action on the issues when it reconvenes in open session.

Fireman’s Park features a dirt track, which hosts the fair’s demolition derby and tractor pulls, and the nearly century-old landmark concrete grandstand, which has not been used for seating for many years and only serves to shelter vendors and for storage.

If the county were to acquire the park, renovating or removing the grandstand would be a major topic of conversation.

On Tuesday, County Administrator Jason Dzinwel said, “The county’s interest in potentially purchasing the 16-plus acre property from Cedarburg Fireman’s Inc. is ensuring that this area remains available to continue the activities of the County Fair, including the midway, demolition derby, tractor pulls and other important events that fair visitors enjoy.

 “I cannot speculate on any future opportunities unless the county is able to reach agreement with Cedarburg Fireman’s Inc. I also cannot speculate on a timeline for approval until it is discussed in closed session.”

A 2002 market study commissioned by the city, county and fire department listed the county’s acquisition of Fireman’s Park as an option for the future of the fair, with the other options being to abandon the grounds and move the fair or to continue the current arrangement with improvements to the site. 

The county has implemented many of the study’s recommended improvements, including the construction of the Ozaukee Pavilion and the Ascension St. Mary’s Center, Dzwinel said.

The 2002 study estimated it would cost the county about $1.23 million to buy Fireman’s Park and another $3 million to make recommended improvements.

The study assumed that under a county purchase, the fire department would continue to hold Maxwell Street Days and that other events, such as those held by 4-H would continue.

The study cites a 1990 agreement governing the potential sale of Fireman’s Park. In the event it wants to sell the property, the Fire Department must first offer it to the county. If the county declines to buy the property, it must be offered to the City of Cedarburg.

The agreement also contains language that governs how the selling price between the parties will be determined.

Under the agreement, the fire department must inform the county within 60 days of receiving an offer to purchase. It is unclear whether the county’s Wednesday meeting was prompted by the fire department receiving an offer from another source. 

The price of the property will be determined by an appraiser jointly agreed upon by the county, the fire department and the city. 

If they disagree with the appraiser, each entity will hire its own appraiser and the price will be set if two of the three appraisers agree. 

Cedarburg Fire Chief Jeff Vasholtz  could not be reached for comment.