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Supervisors discuss fairgrounds lease terms, —Together We Build— governance and building projects; schedule lease work session
Summary
Jackson County supervisors discussed terms for fairgrounds leases, funding and governance for the "Together We Build" project, and possible additions at fairground structures; they directed staff to schedule a focused work session to draft lease language and clarify financial controls.
Jackson County supervisors spent a portion of their Jan. 28 meeting discussing lease terms for fairgrounds properties, governance of the Together We Build advisory and steering committees and pending building projects that may require lease or county approval.
Supervisor Nan Flago said sections of the current proposed fairgrounds lease (including a clause she cited as "5 b") raised concerns about whether the county would be responsible for repairs and replacement. Supervisors discussed two funding approaches: (1) a percentage-cost-sharing structure or (2) a one-time lump-sum contribution with the county —out— of future maintenance obligations. Several supervisors expressed a preference for a capped lump sum rather than an open-ended maintenance commitment.
The board heard that the fairgrounds received a grant for a roofing project but remain short about $20,000 to complete the work; supervisors noted that funding designated for the next fiscal year could be used, and that timing of contractor payments might also affect when funds are needed.
Supervisors also discussed a proposed addition to a small fairgrounds building described in the meeting as the "grandpa shed". County staff and supervisors agreed any change to the fairgrounds footprint should require county approval and be reflected in the lease. The county attorney will be asked to draft or revise lease language to spell out approval rights for building expansions, maintenance responsibilities and any caps on county contributions.
Separately, the board discussed governance of Together We Build. A county staffer reported that the Together We Build steering committee is not an LLC, that it plans to become a subcommittee of the advisory board and that the groups currently maintain separate checkbooks. Supervisors asked for clarity on financial controls and tracking. Several speakers recommended consolidating oversight and requested the steering committee and advisory board's financial practices be clarified in writing.
The board directed staff to schedule a dedicated work session with the county attorney to draft standard lease language (the county attorney volunteered to prepare a template modeled on the Together We Build lease) and to take up the historical society lease and related terms at that meeting.
Supervisors emphasized they do not favor long, 50-year leases and asked that any new leases be structured so the county retains approval authority over changes to the property footprint and so financial responsibilities are clearly defined.
A work session on leases and related terms will be scheduled in the coming weeks; supervisors also discussed budgeting and follow-up items to bring to that session.
