Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Facilities Billing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commissioners push Fair Board billing dispute and petition over fairgrounds management to budget process
Summary
Weston County commissioners on Dec. 3 discussed a surprise $800 invoice from the Fair Board for election use of the county event center and a petition to reorganize fairboard/fairgrounds management; commissioners said the billing issue should be handled during the next budget process.
At the Dec. 3 meeting commissioners discussed an $800 invoice the Weston County Fair Board issued for use of the county event center during the August election cycle and a separate petition asking that fair operations be separated from fairgrounds management.
The invoice, described to commissioners as $100 for setup the day before the primary, $300 for the primary election, $100 for setup before the general, and $300 for the general election, was raised as an after‑the‑fact charge. Commissioners said they had not previously been billed for election use of the event center and criticized the lack of prior communication. "If you're going to charge us this, we need to know what's going on ... have that discussion beforehand, not this after the fact deal," one commissioner said.
Commissioners discussed that the fairgrounds is a county facility paid for with public funds and that county elections are county business; several commissioners recommended resolving the question during the 2024 budget process so the county could allocate a predictable amount for elections and county use of the building. One commissioner suggested returning the bill to the Fair Board and advising the board to present a proposed rate and communication plan during budget hearings.
A separate petition circulated asking that the fair board be separated from fairgrounds management drew discussion. Commissioners said they had previously returned operational control to the Fair Board and agreed to give the board time to demonstrate improvements before making structural changes. "We've given them a chance and see what happens," one commissioner said; others urged a full year or at least completion of the current budget cycle before making further governance changes.
Commissioners directed staff to send a response to the Fair Board saying the county would review the invoice during budget time and to continue a conversation about governance and communication with the Fair Board. No final action to pay or reject the $800 invoice was taken at the meeting.
