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Commission approves pavilion naming-rights plan and several fairground purchases funded by concert-fund transfer
Summary
Commissioners approved a naming-rights strategy for the new indoor pavilion and authorized purchases of cattle ties, electrical upgrades, porta-cools, poultry/rabbit cages and microseal work after voting to transfer $62,932.99 from the concert fund to fairgrounds equipment and improvements.
The Curry County commissioners voted to begin marketing naming rights for the newly finished indoor pavilion and approved several fairground purchases after staff requested direction and funding. Fair Director KC Mesic proposed two naming packages: a combined $15,000-per-year option covering both plaza areas, or separate deals priced at $12,000 per year for the pavilion and $5,000 per plaza. Commissioners asked staff to present both options to prospective partners; a motion to proceed was made and approved.
On fairground equipment and improvements, staff recommended five prioritized purchases tied to this year's fair operations. The commission approved specific purchases during the meeting: additional cattle ties ($21,604 for extra panels and dividers), two 208V, 50A receptacles for the livestock pavilion electrical feed ($6,450 plus tax), four refurbished porta-cool units ($13,600 with a two-year parts warranty), and a package of 75 poultry and rabbit cages ($8,579.30). The commission also approved microseal work at the fairgrounds entry and exit roadways (county cost $12,187.50, half of a vendor demonstration arrangement).
To pay for the purchases, commissioners approved a motion to transfer $62,932.99 from the event-center concert fund into fairgrounds equipment and improvement funds for FY2025 expenditures. Manager Roberts had presented a line-item breakdown tying the requested purchases to fairboard priorities (cattle/animal handling, cooling/ventilation, poultry show needs, and site surface improvements).
Commissioners discussed the longer-term trade-offs for cooling investments, debating a costly big-fan proposal versus purchasing portable evaporative coolers; several commissioners favored the porta-cool approach for flexibility and lower cost. Commissioners also emphasized the need for consistent, county-owned equipment to avoid a patchwork of privately supplied items.
The county manager and fair director said they will proceed with vendor negotiations and tracking of invoices; any further large capital changes will return to the commission. "We're going to buy these porta-cools and it'll make a savings in the long run," the fair director said during the discussion.
