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Fairgrounds director outlines projects as board forms committees and appoints liaison
Summary
Fairgrounds Director Morgan Squires reviewed capital and maintenance needs, grant-funded projects and budgeting timelines while the board created committees, named members and appointed a liaison to work with the Park County Ag Fair Alumni Association amid county budget constraints.
The Park County Fairgrounds and Parks Board heard an operations and capital-projects update from Fairgrounds and Parks Director Morgan Squires and approved committee memberships and a liaison at its Feb. 19 meeting.
Director's update: Squires told the board she has been managing day-to-day facility prep, maintenance and grant projects while the department is short-staffed. "Last year, we had over 165 volunteers," Squires said, noting reliance on volunteers and a grants writer who secured funding for water‑main replacement, solar panels and roof work. Projects still in progress include HVAC replacements — Squires said three more units are planned for the dining room, exhibit building and kitchen — and repairs to a failing septic or sewer pit behind the office.
Budget timeline and constraints: Squires said the county faces a serious budget shortfall and that capital requests (projects over $5,000) were due to finance on the prior Friday. She asked committees to review capital and payroll requests and noted budget workshops scheduled after March 19. "If this Board is interested in reviewing the job descriptions for those vacancies, that could be helpful," Squires said, adding that committee-level review would allow more detailed discussion.
Committees and appointments: The board moved multiple committee appointments and organizational items during the meeting. Motions approved included appointing a board member to serve as liaison to the Park County Ag Fair Alumni Association and forming or staffing the Master Planning, Footbridge and Trails, Governance, and External Affairs committees. The board also discussed forming or recognizing ad hoc project groups for short-term tasks.
Votes at a glance: The transcript records the following formal actions taken by the board during the meeting (tally not recorded in the minutes):
- Appointed John Ball as liaison to the Park County Ag Fair Alumni Association (motion made and seconded; voice vote approved). - Appointed Connor Cavili and Katie Smith to the Footbridge and Trails Committee (motion made and seconded; voice vote approved). - Appointed Christina Nelson, Berlin Johnson and Alex Russell to the Master Planning Committee (motion made and seconded; voice vote approved). - Appointed Shawna Johnson, Riley Roberts Adams and Berlin Johnson to the Governance Committee (motion made and seconded; voice vote approved). - Established/confirmed additional committees and chairs including External Affairs; chairs and members agreed to schedule committee meetings and report back at the next board meeting.
Board members stressed the need to meet in committees before the March budget schedule and asked chairs to give notice if committee meetings would include three or more board members so agendas could be posted. Squires said she would provide further detail to committees and that more technical items (utilities, building-by-building needs) would be handled by the Master Planning Committee.
Ending: Board chairs were asked to schedule committee meetings before the next full board meeting and to coordinate with the director on agendas and notice requirements. The board adjourned at 6:32 p.m.
