Dave Schwandt and the Shuswap Agricultural Association are looking for a solution to keep the city fairgrounds safe for all users, including the Salmon Arm Demolition Derby.
Schwandt was at the fairgrounds on Thursday, July 3, watching as a grader operator worked on levelling the dirt in front of the grandstand.
"The grounds haven鈥檛 been levelled here in years," said Schwandt. "I鈥檓 just fixing it so it鈥檚 right."
The levelling is part of the mitigation work that derby organizer Schwandt and his crew has undertaken following the two-day event on June 14 and 15.
"These graders are $180 an hour鈥�," said Schwandt. "But it鈥檚 going to look good when I鈥檓 done, and it鈥檚 going to be right and that way nobody can complain."
A driving factor behind the post-derby work is ensuring the grandstand grounds are safe for other events, particularly those involving horses and other animals, including those brought in by the Shuswap Agricultural Association (SAA) for the annual Salmon Arm Fair.
"The Shuswap Agriculture Association is committed to supporting our community through events and ensuring the fairgrounds remain accessible, safe and functional for all user groups," said the SAA in a statement shared with the Observer. "The board recognizes that events like the Demolition Derby can present challenges 鈥� particularly in maintaining safe footing for livestock. Nevertheless, we believe it is our responsibility to find balanced, practical solutions that support the diverse needs of everyone who uses the grounds."
Which is why the SAA board and Schwandt are now looking for another way to care for the grounds in front of the grandstand that would enable the derby to continue.
"I can鈥檛 do it until I can find a resolution to have it safe for the animals," said Schwandt. "I would never want to see a horse hurt, or any animal for that matter. It would bother me to no end.
"It only takes one little piece of metal or whatever to make a miserable day for an animal. I don鈥檛 want that. I鈥檓 just trying to find a solution that would work."
While the SAA owns the north fairgrounds, it leases the south fairgrounds from the city and is responsible for maintaining the grounds and structures on it, including the grandstand, which received significant upgrades prior to the derby with work and materials donated by around 30 different local businesses. Schwandt got the ball rolling on that work, and is proud of the outcome. He's put out another call to the community, looking for a solution to "make the derby stay alive."
"I鈥檓 trying to have a solution," said Schwandt. "This is going to cost me $3,000 to $4,000 today. I don鈥檛 have that kind of money to throw around."
The SAA board also wants to see the derby return, recognizing the value it brings to the community.
SAA board director and engineer Scott Syme, who worked closely with Schwandt while heading up the work on the grandstand repairs, has a possible cost-conscious solution in mind: more dirt.
"I'm in the camp of we just have a topping sand that we remove for the derby and put back, a couple of hours for a loader to take it off and a couple of hours to put it back on, it's not that demanding," said Syme.
Schwandt stressed the SAS is "working with me, not against me," and that he's open to a solution that works for the fairgrounds and the community.
"I want a solution to make this arena work for all events, whether it's the demolition derby or horses or monster trucks or dirt bikes or whatever鈥� because the town itself needs these events鈥�," said Schwandt. "I just want this to be a successful town."
