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Fair board seeks fundraisers; committee discusses camping protocols and rink surcharge enforcement
Summary
Fair Board President Courtney Tauriainen requested two fundraising events to pay for concrete work; committee tabled formal camping policy changes pending a protocol and voted to increase interim ice-time fees to $5 per hour effective April 2026 while correspondence revealed an uncompleted $31,000 dehumidifier project and an unpaid $4,500 reimbursement.
During public comment, Fair Board President Courtney Tauriainen asked the committee to permit two "bump and run" fundraisers—scheduled for March 14 at 2 p.m. and tentatively June 6 at 6 p.m.—with proceeds to fund concrete work in the sheep and goat barns. She said the events would not cost the county. The committee agreed to add the request to the full-board agenda for further consideration.
The committee discussed temporary camping at the fairgrounds during fair week. Staff said permits from the health department in prior years allowed extra temporary sites but the transcript record does not clearly specify the number of additional sites or exact permit details. Committee members noted past problems with people using power hookups and having fire pits on rustic sites. Commissioner Travis Konarzewski moved, and the committee carried, a motion to table action and return with a formal protocol for full-board consideration.
On rink finances, Chair John Kozlowski said a 2023 Alpena Rink Management surcharge policy had approved a per‑ticket fee increase to $1.50 and an ice‑time fee increase to $3.00 per hour, but the county never received those increases. The committee recorded an interim change effective April 2026, raising the ice‑time fee to $5.00 per hour until contract renewal; County Administrator Jesse Osmer will draft a letter for review at the next full‑board meeting to document the interim rates.
Kozlowski also summarized correspondence about a dehumidifier approved in August 2025 for $31,000, of which $4,500 was to be reimbursed to the county by Alpena Rink Management by the end of 2025. The project was not completed and the reimbursement was not received; commissioners asked staff to follow up with Alpena Rink Management.
Fairground Superintendent Nick Akins presented monthly reports saying there were few issues at the warming shelter; the committee moved to receive and file those reports.
