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Board debates transfer of community-event funds to Fair Association; forms oversight committee
Summary
The board discussed a proposal for the Stark County Fair Association to manage community-event funds (approx. $170,000), agreed to keep board approval for disbursements, and asked a committee to vet applications and make recommendations.
Stark County board members discussed whether to transfer management of community-event funds to the Stark County Fair Association and clarified oversight and approval procedures for those dollars.
Lisa Heizer, staff member, reported that the Fair Association had voted to take on responsibility for managing community funds for a one-year trial. Heizer said she recommended adding Dustin, the Fair Association chairman, to the county committee that reviews applications so the fair board would have a voice in allocation recommendations. The existing committee was described in discussion as including Commissioner Marsh, the county auditor Karen Richard, county staff and Heizer.
Board members expressed concern about simply handing the money over without retaining final approval. One member said the board should continue to receive applications and recommendations rather than cede unconditional spending authority. Heizer described the proposed process as committee screening followed by board approval: "the committee...screen that knowing what our values are here, bring us some legitimate candidates for this process. Because I don't think we want this to be just, you know, have everyone shown up at this podium asking for dollars when we haven't screened it," she said.
Participants said approximately $170,000 is allocated for community events tied to the fairgrounds, with an $85,000 portion typically earmarked for Roughrider Days or similar fair programming. Heizer said the city plans to assume responsibility for some events (parade, concert, fireworks), which could change how much the county needs to allocate to those specific items. The board agreed the committee should vet requests and return recommendations to the board for final approval; no transfer of full spending authority was approved at the meeting.
The board asked staff and the committee to meet now that budget documents from the Roughrider Commission are available and to return recommendations for allocations.
