Fair board tables request from traveling circus; asks staff for more information

The Richland County Fair Board tabled a request from an outside group to rent one building at the fairgrounds for a one-day circus-style event that the requester had proposed for May 23.

Board members said the written request provided limited information: a single building with about 12-foot vertical clearance, roughly 5,700 square feet of floor area and seating for about 100 people. The group indicated they would bring small acts — juggling, a trapeze-type acrobatic artist who would use fabric, and one horse for pony rides — and asked the fairgrounds to set up bleachers and provide stage space. Because of the short lead time and unanswered questions about cleanup, animal handling and prior site performance, the board voted to table the request and asked staff to gather more information about the organization and the proposed event.

During discussion board members raised concerns about site suitability and prior experiences with similar events that left grounds damage. A phone contact listed in the packet was Jeff Schultz; the board decided not to hold a vendor call during the meeting and instead to request additional documentation and references and, if necessary, hold a special meeting before the requested date.

A voice vote to table the request carried. The motion to table was recorded as moved by McKee; a specific second was not recorded in the transcript.