MOSES LAKE — Planning is underway for upgrades to the commercial, 4-H and agriculture buildings at the Grant County Fairgrounds, including a fire suppression system for all three buildings and a new commercial kitchen.

Grant County commissioners approved a $29,514 revision to an existing contract with MJ Neal Associates, of Wenatchee, on Tuesday to design the fire suppression system.

The county’s director of Central Services, Tom Gaines, said Wednesday the additions planned in the space between the commercial and ag buildings will make the space available for larger events. The increase in capacity means sprinkler systems are required in the three buildings.

The addition will be paid for with money left over from an earlier project that installed new lights at the Moses Lake Roundup arena and the south end of the fairgrounds.

Gaines said the design is complicated by the fact the sprinkler system is connected while each building’s system must be controlled separately.

“The sprinklers – that’s a really expensive proposition. But it’s what should be done,” Gaines said.

Planning for the commercial kitchen required consulting experts in kitchen design, which slowed the planning process a little bit, Gaines said.

The ag building will be connected to the commercial building via a covered walkway. There’s already a covered walkway between the 4H and commercial buildings.

The ag building was upgraded in 2020, with the finishing touches added earlier this year. Previously, it was an uninsulated metal shell with roll-up doors. The exterior was repaired and made weather-tight, insulation was added to the interior, and the roll-up doors were replaced with standard doors. The interior also got new paneling and a heating-cooling system

Currently, there’s lawn between the ag and commercial buildings. That space will be filled in with the walkway, a new restroom, storage space and the commercial kitchen.

The project originally included the restroom, storage and walkway, Gaines said, but the fairgrounds director, Jim McKiernan, suggested adding the commercial kitchen, which he said would make the space more attractive for events.

The planning and an estimate of the costs will be completed before the end of the year, Gaines said, with the goal of including the project in the 2022 fairgrounds capital budget. If approved, the project would go out for bid in January 2022 with the goal of completing it before the Grant County Fair in August.

Gaines told commissioners Tuesday county officials want to concentrate on projects that have the most impact. The goal is to make the fairgrounds more attractive to groups and individuals looking to rent event space.