Fair Board discusses coverage after staff departures; county job description cited

Austin (Treasurer) reported that administrative staff member Mercedes "put in her 2 weeks last Monday" and that the county CFO also stepped down, prompting immediate discussions about interim coverage and the hiring process.

The board discussed two options: the county facilities finance team could continue to provide the 150 hours of work allocated to the fair, or the fair board could elect one of its members to perform the duties. "Unless said otherwise, we'll do what we can to bridge the gap," Austin said, adding that a full‑time or part‑time replacement could be considered and that the updated county job description will include the fair duties so applicants will see the expectation.

Facilities committee members pressed for clarity on whether the county facilities hiring process would make those 150 hours explicit in the job posting. A facilities committee member said the hours and duties are "right in her job description that was updated" and confirmed applicants would be made aware of the 150‑hour allocation. Several board members noted the fair board retains the option to elect its own treasurer if it prefers.

No formal hiring action was taken. Board members asked staff to confirm whether facilities will include the fair duties in the posted job and to return with recommended next steps at a subsequent meeting.