Fair board prioritizes new arena light pole, explores funding options

Clallam County Fair Board members told the March 12, 2025, meeting that a permanent light pole is needed at the arena entrance near the flagpole to reduce shadows and improve safety for animals and volunteers.

Fair board member, Fair board member, said the pole is “a necessity for safety” and cited broken fingers and thumbs during after-dark events last year. The board asked staff to identify funding sources and timelines.

The board discussed temporary and permanent options. Fair board member noted the county is receiving an additional light tower through Health and Human Services emergency resiliency funding and said that could provide partial relief for other areas, but county facilities staff, as referenced by name in the transcript, said a permanently mounted pole — roughly 30 to 35 feet — would provide a higher, downcast fixture that creates fewer shadows than 20–23-foot mobile light towers.

Fair board member described operational constraints for portable towers: the engine noise on towable towers can spook livestock and horses at the chute. “The light pole gives us greater height than what the light towers,” the transcript reports Joe Marceau as saying (as referenced), explaining the difference in lighting pattern and height.

The board did not adopt a formal funding action at the meeting. Members agreed to consult the county administrator and facilities staff to identify appropriate funding sources and to report back with a financing plan. One board member said she expects at least the primary pole to be installed this year, pending a funding source and administrator approval.

Ending: Board members asked fair manager and facilities staff to follow up and return with cost estimates and recommended funding sources for the next meeting.