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Commissioners waive fairgrounds insurance requirement for ham‑radio field day after hearing public safety argument
Summary
The board approved a request to waive the normal insurance requirement and allow ham‑radio operators to use the Valley County fairgrounds for a public field‑day event; organizer Larry Bitterman said ham radio is often the only means of communication immediately after disasters, and quoted an Allstate insurance estimate of just over $1,000 for three days.
Valley County commissioners on May 26 approved a waiver of the usual insurance requirement so amateur radio operators can hold a public “field day” event at the county fairgrounds.
Larry Bitterman, who said he represents two ham‑radio groups and lives in Cascade, explained the event is intended to practice emergency communications in an off‑grid setting and to engage the public and children in amateur radio. “It is oftentimes the only means of communication after a disaster,” he told the board, citing recent FEMA reliance on ham radio in disaster response.
Bitterman said his carrier, Allstate, quoted a little over $1,000 to insure a three‑day event. Commissioners discussed liability and the public‑service value of ham radio; Chair said he had no problem waiving the insurance for this one and Commissioner Thompson moved to approve the waiver. The motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.
Organizers agreed to provide a completed special‑event form and contact information for county staff; commissioners said the county typically does not publicize non‑county events but that the organizers could publicize the field day themselves.
Why it matters: The waiver allows a community‑oriented emergency‑communications exercise at a public venue without the county paying for event insurance; the decision balances low apparent site risk against the public‑safety benefit of practiced, volunteer communications capability.
