Fair commission follow-up: Moneyless tabled for 1 year.
<p>Fair commission directors Regina Skoczylas, Jim Newman and Bill Kenyon look over submitted papers at the February meeting last week.</p>
Editor’s Note: Last week’s issue of Valley Press erroneously printed the outcome of the moneyless decision; the following article is for clarification, as well as updates on the other agenda items addressed by the fair commission last Monday. Valley Press apologizes for last week’s error and for any confusion it may have caused.
PLAINS - The February meeting of the Sanders County Fair Commission accomplished many agenda items, including a decision for the moneyless fair option. According to Fair Manager Mike Hashisaki, the moneyless fair decision was tabled for a year, meaning the fair commission will formally decide on moneyless one year from now. In regards to the fair financial status, the fair is a bit over $6,000 in the red because the INTERCAP loan payment was made a month early. The fair commission also voted to change the monthly meeting date from the third Monday of each month, to the third Tuesday of each month, beginning in March. Therefore, they plan to meet next on Tuesday, March 19 at 7 p.m.
Also touched upon by the fair commission was that of public participation in meetings. Each month, the fair commission hosts up to 20-30 people that represent the general, local public. Opinions are often heard during the scheduled public commentary portion of the meeting. However, it was addressed by the fair board last Monday that “personal attacks are not permitted” during the time for public commentary.
To ensure the clarity of the statement, as well as a change to the fair by-laws regarding “personal attacks,” the slide read, “Citizens shall be provided the opportunity to participate in all regular meetings of the Sanders County Fair Commission during a time set aside for this purpose. The Chairman shall determine a time limit for public comments based on the number of persons wishing to speak. Public comments shall pertain to fair issues only and the person making the comments shall act in a courteous, professional manner. No personal attacks are permitted.”
(The change to the by-laws was the bolded font of the former paragraph).
The fair commission also touched on parliamentary procedures of meetings, changing the procedures from Webster’s New World Robert’s Rules of Order, simplified and applied, 2nd edition.
“Except as otherwise specifically provided for in these by-laws or the policies adopted by the Sanders County Fair Commission, all questions of order or procedure with respect to any meeting or action of the Sanders County Fair Commission shall be determined in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, 11th edition.” (bolded font is the change to the by-laws approved by the fair commission).
Public commentary last Monday lasted for 45 minutes, and issues brought forth by the public were that of tone when speaking to one anohter, and financial concerns of both the fair board and the fair foundation; however, the fair commission is unattached to the fair foundation, which is a 501 (c)(3).