Kasson City Council, Fair Board discuss truck parking

The Dodge County fairgrounds could serve as a place where truck drivers park their vehicles this winter if the city and fair board agree on who should plow the area.

Sue Alberts, a member of the fair board, brought the issue to the Kasson City Council last week asking if the city would plow a portion of the fairgrounds this winter. The board, she said, would like the city to plow a gravel drive on the north side of the track and just south of the office.

One semi-truck owner has already inquired about parking a trailer at the grounds, she said, and other requests were expected. She added the fair board did not plan on charging for the parking.

Quite a few truck drivers have asked where they can park their vehicles, Mayor Steve Johnson said. The issue for the city, he said, would be the costs for plowing the area which is located on county property. The city plows the ice arena, which is located on the fairgrounds, he said, but that is the last area to be cleared.

Johnson said that the truck drivers he talked to had also indicated they would not be opposed to paying a fee for parking on the fairgrounds.

Councilmembers also pointed out that if they do not park trucks at the fairgrounds there is really no other place in the city for them to use.

“We don’t want them on the city streets,” Johnson said.

No decision was made but Johnson and Alberts agreed to go to the fairgrounds and determine exactly how much of the area would need to be plowed.