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Anngee Quinones-Belian/Staff Correspondent The sinkhole within the fenced area prevents the Cherokee County Saddle Club from using that space as a main competition arena.
Ranger – Cherokee County commissioners met with members of the Cherokee County Saddle Club at the Cherokee County Fairgrounds/Mountain Folk Center on Aug. 16 to discuss conditions of the property and steps necessary to restore usability for saddle club and 4-H events.
The field hasn’t been used by either club for about two years. Leaking pipes caused a sinkhole in the main arena, making it unusable as an arena.
“The buildings were put up on the property using state grant money in the 1970s and the pipes are old,” said Commissioner Jan Griggs.
The board looked at the repair options with a goal to reopen the venue by spring 2024 for the least cost possible.
Fixing the piping alone was estimated to cost $350,000 when first evaluated two years ago. With rising costs for building materials and supplies, the price tag is expected to be higher now.
Other issues include fixing the sink hole and repairing the building and bleachers.
The division between county commissioners was whether to move the previous and now unusable main arena to the front of the property or move it to the smaller area that was used as a practice arena.
There is cost involved to do either.
The option favored by board chairman Cal Stiles is to move the main competition arena to an area previously used as the practice arena. The problem is that the space isn’t long or wide enough, according to Griggs and Cherokee County Saddle Club board member Sarah Burrell.
They would like to see the arena moved to where the main building is, a more spacious area closer to the entrance of the property.
The N.C. Horse Council is willing to help with funding but needs a cost estimate.
Stiles said he was unsure whether to dedicate the entire property to a horse arena or keep a portion of the property available for industrial use.
There’s also discussion about whether to tear down several buildings on the property and start over.
“Before we spend $350,000 on replacing pipes, we’ve got to have a bigger plan of what we’re going to do,” Stiles said. “We’re willing to help with buying the fencing and we’re willing to help with some seeding and help with moving the building if we have to.
“If you can do that, no one’s out a huge amount of money and you can get on with the arena,” he said.
Griggs made a motion to use some of the saddle club’s equipment to block off the sink hole and to then get maintenance out to take care of the safety hazard.
Her motion was amended to add signage suggested by county attorney Darryl Brown.
The issues were tabled until the next commissioner’s meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 5, when Cherokee County Saddle Club leaders can present their ideas on how they’d like to proceed.