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Fair board reports record attendance; commissioners discuss new exhibit building use, ADA access and operations
Summary
Fair board members told the commission the recent fair had record attendance, strong 4-H sale results and sponsor growth. Commissioners and staff discussed future uses and controls for a new exhibit building, including ADA access, rental fees, key-fob access, storage, mowing and authorized disposal of unneeded items.
Fair board members told Bannock County commissioners on Aug. 21 that this year’s fair had its largest attendance in recent memory, a strong 4‑H livestock sale and improved sponsorships — and they sought direction on how the county should manage a new exhibit building constructed on the fairgrounds.
Dylan Moser Evans, chair of the fair board, said the fair ran “the absolute very best” in recent years and that the event proceeded without major incidents. Nikki Ennis, extension educator, said the 4‑H program had its biggest year with more than 200 youth participating and reported that livestock and consumer‑science entries increased; she said the auction generated more than $400,000. “Our sale went really well this year. We did over $400,000,” Ennis said.
Fair staff and county facilities director Dan Kendall outlined operational issues for the new exhibit hall and surrounding grounds: ADA access from handicapped parking to the arena entrance is incomplete, sidewalks do not currently tie into city infrastructure, there are remaining interior finish items and the kitchen is a warming kitchen (not a commercial/industrial kitchen). Kendall and commissioners discussed options including partnering with the City of Downey on sidewalks, applying for grants for accessible entrances, paving the area behind the building for accessible parking and consolidating fairground operations by relocating a baseball field.
County HR and risk management director Matthew Phillips said the county’s insurer did not recommend extra coverage for routine rentals but suggested standard certificate requirements and, where alcohol is served, that events be catered and follow the county’s event-center practices. Phillips also suggested waivers for users undertaking athletic activities such as pickleball. Facilities staff raised inventory and access-control issues (tables, chairs, kitchen equipment, and keys), and discussed access control approaches including key fobs, keypads or master keys.
Storage and maintenance topics included three on-site storage containers; fair staff proposed keeping one container and relocating others. Grounds maintenance emerged as a recurring concern: staff said the county lacks a mower suited to the site and discussed contracting mowing or purchasing appropriate equipment.
During the discussion commissioners authorized disposal of items listed by staff. A motion to “dispose of the items listed” was made and approved by voice vote; staff said some material would be hauled to the landfill or sold at auction and that county procedures require an auction for certain items.
Commissioners directed the fair board to develop a plan for building management (controls, inventory, fee structure, deposit policy and responsibilities) and to return with proposals after consulting county facilities, risk management and legal. They emphasized caution, budgeting for sidewalks and addressing ADA access before broad public rental.
