Bonner County commissioners review fairgrounds buildings, prioritize infrastructure and safety repairs

Bonner County commissioners reviewed a recent inspection of fairgrounds buildings, heard specific safety concerns and discussed prioritizing infrastructure repairs ahead of the county fair.

Commissioner Corn reported authorized inspections and photographs after the board could not visit the site as a full board due to noticing constraints. He said risk and another commissioner identified immediate safety issues at the swine wash rack and that he had removed exposed screws and nails ahead of the fair. He noted fire hydrants at the site were in poor condition, with perhaps only one of four functioning and not well, and recommended prioritizing hydrant work.

Corn described other needs: grading and drainage around the parking lot to mitigate flooding; commercial doors on the main building that do not lock and may require a commercial door company bid; and a rear deck made of composite decking that is uneven and could be a safety issue for disabled attendees. He suggested replacing the deck with concrete and regrading to reduce interior flooding on the north side of the main building.

Risk manager Christian Jocelyn also inspected the site and noted the fair board-built stadium seating had saved tens of thousands by building to manufacturer instructions and that the seating "passed" inspection and was built to a high standard.

Public comment raised concerns about fair fees and a forthcoming public hearing on rate increases; a resident urged greater public participation at that hearing. Commissioners said they will continue dialogue with the fair board, work through legal questions about responsibilities, and prioritize infrastructure and safety items in future budget conversations.