Columbia City Council unanimously approves taking over fairgrounds

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

At their January meeting, the Columbia City Council voted to approve the transfer of ownership of the Boone County Fairgrounds to the city.

Boone County Commissioners still need to approve a vote to transfer 135.9 acres to Columbia. A meeting agenda for the January meeting doesn't show a vote will be taken up.

The current plan is to renovate the fairgrounds with a track and field arena and ball fields.

The county has owned the fairgrounds since 1999 and closed it in 2015 after voters rejected a sales tax for its upkeep.

Part of the deal between Columbia and the county is that the city will have to honor existing leases with Veterans United Home Loans and United Parcel Service.