By GAYLE WEBER

gweber@dailynews.net

An inexpensive solution to parking issues at the Ellis County Fairgrounds might not be available for the county right now, according to the fair board chairman.

The fair board is hoping to provide a stabilizing agent to the dirt in the parking lot west of the Gold and Schenk buildings in the next couple of months so the buildings can be host to a large function in February.

"My thoughts are we go in and try to get some rock down and get it stabilized," Fair Board Chairman Loran Zimmerman said. "We need to look at asphalt in that area. I know it's going to be expensive. ... But long-term, that may still be the best bet."

Zimmerman told Ellis County Commissioners on Monday the best option right now would be to lay egg rock or crushed concrete down to prevent people from getting stuck in the parking lot. The rock is expected to cost $15,000 to $20,000; however, the parking lot would almost double in size.

"It's not for the fair, because that's only one week out of the year," Zimmerman said. "We can survive. It's for everything else going on out there."

Zimmerman said the parking lots usually are full on weekends because of wedding receptions and other events. He said revenue from renting the building for those events possibly could pay for the rock.

Crushed concrete would be available from county crews working at Walker Army Airfield. The county would be able to haul the rock to the fairgrounds and work it into place.

"We can put it down and see what it does, but we need to have a fix for that," Zimmerman said.

Putting asphalt over the area is expected to cost more than $150,000.

Commissioners discussed paying for either the rock or asphalt work out of its capital improvement budget and having the fair board reimburse it. Either way, Zimmerman said something has to be done.

"The rock isn't a big deal to get that hauled in and get that done," Zimmerman said. "It would at least get us by for now."

In other business:

* Commissioner Vernon Berens suggested creating a committee to look at the space needs of the county, following a failed vote to move county administrative offices in November. Berens said he would like to start working on a new plan for the county's space needs in the next month or two.

"In the future, we're going to have to address the space needs not just for the courthouse, but for the landfill and all these other places," Commissioner Perry Henman said.

* The Emergency Communications Group will be working on a proposal to hire an adviser to help with the transition to digital for its 800-megahertz radios.

Lt. of Communications Oveta Ford said she was in contact with a retiring communications officer in Douglas County who she would like to hire. The position would be an on-call job with the expectation the adviser not earn more than $6,000 per year.

"This may be a joint effort of the city and the county," Ford said.

The radios were purchased through Ellis County funds and grants, though the communications group consists of both city and county emergency directors.

Henman said he would like to see the group find an adviser closer to home; however, Ford said she is comfortable with her choice because he's been in the communications field for more than 30 years.

A more complete proposal will be put together and presented to commissioners in the next couple of months.

* Commissioners awarded a bid to Kaw Valley Engineering Inc., Junction City, for $14,766 for the county's biennial bridge inspections. Commissioners passed up on a bid of $7,704 in order to have a new set of eyes look at the bridges for any deficiencies.

* Commissioners awarded a bid of $2,860 to Advanced Home Improvement for a remodeling project at the health department. The project, which includes the construction of an 8-by-12-foot room inside the existing space, is expected to be complete by the end of the year.

* Commissioners approved a one-time cereal malt beverage license for Garrett Geist for an event Saturday at the Ellis County Fairgrounds.

* Commissioners signed the Ellis County Fire Rescue Mutual Aid agreement.