Fairboard decides funds for stand down

PLAINS – The Sanders County Fairboard met on Wednesday, March 19 to discuss a variety of issues revolving around money. The board presented a decision on the Sanders County Tri-State Veterans Stand Down funds, discussed the pavilion rehabilitation, talked about a possible new building on the grounds and renewed their fair concessions contract.

As the meeting kicked off, Chris McGuigan stated they had received a response from County Attorney Bob Zimmerman on the issue of the $2,000 still owed to the fairboard for hosting the stand down.

According to McGuigan, Zimmerman’s input on the issue was that the fair could not donate the $2,000 for the 2013 stand down. Zimmerman also recommended before renting out the grounds that all parties enter into a signed contract – something the fairboard has already implemented.

McGuigan offered two ideas to the fairboard on how to proceed with Stand Down Organizer Billy Hill.

Both options would be a three-year contract for the years 2015-2017. The first option presented was $1,000 a year plus a refundable $500 cleaning deposit and a $2,000 payment due when signing the contract in November. The second option would cost $1,000 year plus the same refundable cleaning deposit and a payment of $667 due on each payment for the next three years of the contract.

“What that $667 payment is, is it gives him a chance and good faith on our part for him to pay the $2,000 that he has already received money for,” McGuigan said.

Under this option, the $2,000 would be paid in three separate payments.

The board decided to take time before making a decision and a motion was passed to table the discussion and have it taken care of by November.

“My thinking is that we don’t know that Billy will be the representative to represent the stand down for 2015, 16, 17 and the $2,000 is still due. I would prefer to make no decision now until we are presented with a request,” said Vice Chairman Bruce Icenoggle.

After a confirmation that Cowgirls Kicking Cancer was authorized to use the horse arena and bleachers for their August 29 event, the board moved on to talk about the pavilion rehabilitation.

Fair Manager Mike Hashisaki presented the plans for the upgraded pavilion. The project would take place in four different bids: one for the exterior of the building, one for the bathrooms, one for the main hall including the two storage areas and one for the kitchen.

After outlining the specifics of each, the board approved the bids be printed in the Sanders County Ledger.

One of the biggest topics of discussion was that the pavilion’s ceiling would be lowered. A false ceiling would be put in place and Jean Morrison wondered if the grounds would lose events because of that.

Morrison’s biggest concern was the new building would not be conducive to some of the musical and artistic events she brings into the area.

After some discussion, the board members stated it would not lose the grounds any businesses.

“We can do the pavilion…and figure some place to build an amphitheater out here,” McGuigan said.

A donation of money was designated by the Bracket family to bring a new structure to the fairgrounds that would be used for the arts.

Overall, $50,000 was donated but after a floodplain study and a building design, half of that money was spent.

Not with $25,000, there is not an adequate amount of money to build the building they had once envisioned.

Commissioner Carol Brooker explained what the specifications on the buildings were according to the family that donated.

“They wanted a new building out here that was something when you drove across the bridge stood out and was very breathtaking,” Brooker said.

She explained that after a bid to design the building went out, a group of people started searching for more money but at that time, the economy started going down hill and a lot of the money for that sort of project dried up.

Morrison proposed the board look into an outdoor amphitheater like the one in Salmon, Idaho. She said it was open air and provided a shell up top for shelter from the elements.

As the meeting progressed, this year’s fair concession contract was renewed. After a proposed increase did not go through, the contract remained at a flat fee of $24,000 – the same as last year.

Hashisaki stated the parking contract would go back to the same organization that ran it last year and that the Community Service Award nominee was John Halpop.

“John served many years as county extension agent, many hours of service, lives here at the fair with all the 4-H kids and does his part,” McGuigan said.

Everyone agreed with the nomination.

The next fairboard meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 16 at 7 p.m. Any one is welcome to attend.