Fair committee approves updated fee schedule, delegates director authority to adjust for labor costs

The Richland County Fair Committee voted on Dec. 1 to forward a revised fairgrounds fee schedule to executive finance and the county board and approved language that gives the fair director authority to adjust rates to account for labor costs and donations.

"Motion by Sandy to approve our fee schedule and have the ability for [the fair director] to adjust it as needed for labor in return for labor costs," the chair announced. The motion was seconded by Randy Scudover and carried on a voice vote.

Staff described the reworked rental contract as a condensed, one-page form and explained key changes in the fee schedule: formalizing a $500-per-day full-ground rental rate that has been used informally for some events, adding a bathroom-cleaning charge that can be waived if groups perform cleaning themselves, clarifying camping and storage fees, and instituting an hourly maintenance-staff fee when county highway or maintenance staff are required.

Members debated whether long-standing or community groups (for example, the local rodeo or Wheels of Time) should continue to receive reduced or waived fees when they provide cleaning or volunteer labor. Staff said they will document such arrangements in writing when appropriate so expectations are clear and consistent across groups.

The motion forwards the fee schedule to executive finance/board review and gives the director discretion to adjust charges where donated labor or additional county maintenance resources are provided; committee members were told disputes may be escalated to the fair committee or county administrator.