Cabarrus commissioners appoint Fair Advisory Commission amid heated public criticism of chair pick

The Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 21 approved appointments to a newly created Fair Advisory Commission and named Marvin Bost as its chairman, drawing sustained public criticism and allegations that the pick prompted resignations in the county fair department.

The appointments passed on two separate motions. Commissioners approved John Cline, Ashley Miller and Courtney Wyatt to four-year terms (motion carried, 3–1). They then approved Sheree Deal, Barbara Strang, Jimmy Petty, Janet Stansil and David Plas to two-year terms with a residency provision (motion carried, 3–1).

The board’s vote followed more than an hour of public comment in which multiple fair vendors and former fair employees criticized the choice of Bost as chair and said the new advisory committee had created a hostile work environment. Vendor Ivy Almond told commissioners that Bost “has finally done this by embedding himself into your commission” and accused commissioners of repaying political favors. Livestock manager Matt Barrier said, “We, as your employees, refuse to work with this committee and its chairman.”

At the meeting Commissioner Christopher Meissmer, who helped place the item on a prior work-session agenda, defended the pick. He said he had checked with the sheriff and district attorney and found “no record of any charges, any trial, or any conviction” against Bost. Meissmer also described Bost’s recent attendance at a state fair convention and called the chair position a volunteer role with no authority to fire employees.

Several speakers urged the board to provide a transparent appointment process and to avoid perceived cronyism. Resident Mae Mack asked the board to “follow an open application process” and warned against creating an “echo chamber.”

County staff clarified during the meeting that the fair department currently has one full-time employee and some contracted positions; earlier public statements describing a larger department and a wave of resignations were not borne out in staff remarks. The board also said the Fair Advisory Committee had not yet held its first meeting.

Ending: Commissioners said they would take the concerns under advisement and proceed with the appointments. The board did not vote to remove or replace the chair at the meeting, and the advisory commission had not yet met by the time the session adjourned.