Peggy Hamric

Peggy Hamric , Hillsborough County Real Estate Department , Tampa Bay

"It's our goal to work with the community to accomplish what obviously was the original intention with this plat," said Peggy Hamric, a technical services manager in the county's real estate department.

Hamric said a provision in a state statute could allow the county to give the land to a non-profit organization - either at no cost or at fair market value - for a specific purpose like a park.

Some, including E.G. Simmons Park in Ruskin and Tampa's Raymond James Stadium, where the fair has leased space in recent years, would be suitable only for this year's fair in November while a permanent site is sought, said Peggy Hamric, of Hillsborough County's real estate department.

County officials culled finalists from a list of about 18 sites, Hamric said.
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County staff will meet with leaders of the fair association and other interested parties to discuss options, Hamric said.

The staff will huddle Monday to discuss the sites and develop a "short list" of those that might be suitable for a fairgrounds, said Peggy Hamric, technical services manager for Hillsborough's Real Estate Department.

Starting Tuesday, she said, the staff will try to get input from interested parties and develop a recommendation to take to county commissioners May 18.

She declined Friday to list the sites considered, saying she didn't want to stir interest among residents living near land that isn't likely to make the short list.
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County officials toured the trails site and another county- owned parcel on the east side of Sydney-Washer, Hamric said.

She said the staff also looked at sites in northeast Hillsborough and as far south as County Road 672.Fair organizers have requested at least 60 acres, with expansion possibilities to 120 acres, Hamric said.

"Some of the sites we are looking at are not that size but, in our opinion, still might be appropriate," she said.

Peggy Hamric, Technical Services Section Manager

Peggy Hamric, technical services manager with Hillsborough's Real Estate Department, said county staff initially considered 18 to 20 sites.
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Hamric said the list of sites has not been ranked.

She said county staff will meet next week with opponents of a fairgrounds at the Sydney-Dover site, but probably will not schedule meetings with neighbors near the other sites before May 18.

If the staff recommends another site for the fair, and county commissioners want public input, the staff will set up meetings with would-be neighbors at those sites, Hamric said.

She said county officials included Raymond James Stadium, where the fair has leased space around Thanksgiving in recent years, as an alternative because time is running out for planning this year's event.

The staff also included E.G. Simmons Park in Ruskin as a temporary spot.Hamric said the waterfront park is too well- used to turn even a portion of it over to a private entity for an extended period.Fair officials have asked for 60 acres that could be enlarged over time, she said, adding that the association wants to build permanent facilities that could be booked when the fair is not operating and generate revenue.

"What they [fair officials] have asked for is essentially exclusive control of the property year-round," Hamric said.