Planning for Mower County’s summer get-together is drawing to a close.

Though the fair is still months away, long-time fair board member Ken Trom told the county board Tuesday this year’s fair is ready.

The Mower County Fair returns Aug. 9-14. The opening ceremonies will be Aug. 9 at 7 p.m., which has been moved from noon so more people can attend. The opening will feature the Pride of Mower Show and winners of awards like Fair Person of the Year, Farm Family of the Year and Outstanding Senior Volunteer.

Thursday is set to be busy, as it will be Senior Day. There will be a tent for companies that service senior citizens, like Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin. Past favorites Tina and Lena are set to return to the free stage that day, and a Neil Diamond tribute act is also set to perform.

The fair isn’t the only thing coming to the fairgrounds. A Model T club is set to display its cars on July 21, and fair board members are working to bring a new livestock show in coming years, Trom said.

Trail work comes in under budget

The Shooting Star Trail is moving forward — at a reduced price.

On Tuesday, the county board awarded the bid for gravel work on the trail to Skyline Construction for about $341,500.

The bid came in quite a bit below they county’s spending limit of about $450,000. However, County Engineer Mike Hanson guaranteed all the allotted money — which is coming from the Department of Natural Resources — will be used to advance the trail.

“We’ll spend all of it. … That money will not be taken away from Mower County,” Hanson said.

Other projects are moving along well for the county. Work on County Road 45 should be finishing in the next week or two, and work on County Road 2 is scheduled to start Thursday.

“Everything’s going pretty smoothly right now,” Hanson said.

Hilliers to open mini-storage site

The Austin area will soon have another mini-storage site.

The county board approved a conditional use permit Tuesday to build a storage facility on David and Carolyn Hillier’s property in Austin Township.

David said residential areas are expanding on the west side of town, and more storage units are needed.

The Hillier’s will transfer the land to their son, John, and he will operate the facility.

The board also approved a conditional use permit for a 190-foot meteorological tower for enXco to test the wind in Lodi Township.