State Fair Park plans study of Milwaukee Mile
It’s in response to critical state audit from January
State Fair Park is formulating plans for a study of the Milwaukee Mile racetrack and is tightening contract records, according to a letter written to state legislators.
Officials at the 190-acre fairgrounds responded Friday to a critical state audit that was released in January and covered five years from fiscal years 2012-’13 to 2016-’17.
“We’re in a very good place,” said Kathleen O’Leary, State Fair Park chief executive officer, who assumed leadership in May 2016.
Auditors noted that State Fair Park lacked a plan for the idle racetrack. Under State Fair Park Board Chair John Yingling, a land-property committee will meet after this year’s fair to consider the future vision of the track.
A study will cost from $150,000 to $300,000 and will have to go through an approval process before it can be conducted.
In the letter, State Fair Park officials said the study would include “a general assessment of existing Milwaukee Mile acreage, site analysis, perimeter space and programming considerations, development assessment, architectural designs and implementation recom-
mendations.”
State Fair Park officials noted that NASCAR and IndyCar are in a transition period and race promoters have to come up with at least $1 million for sanctioning fees. Even though there are no major racing events at the facility, it provides more than half the parking spaces for the annual state fair and serves as the main concert venue.
Auditors criticized the fair’s procurement practices. For the last few months State Fair Park and the Department of Administration have been working on the issue. As a result, the State Fair “will be able to conduct procurement activities with the assistance of DOA, State Bureau of Procurement as we build staff and organizational capacity.”
To tighten contract records, “State Fair Park staff will update and maintain a comprehensive list of all contracts” and a contract specialist has been hired.
State Fair Park’s response to the audit came in a letter from O’Leary and Yingling to Joint Legislative Audit Committee co-chairs Sen. Robert Cowles, RAllouez, and Rep. Samantha Kerkman, R-Salem.
The 2018 Wisconsin State Fair will run Aug. 2-12.