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Nebraska State Fair Board OKs $1.5 million from reserves to cover ARPA project costs
Summary
At its Aug. 22 meeting in Grand Island, the Nebraska State Fair Board approved using $1.5 million from capital and operating reserves to cover ARPA project costs that are currently non-reimbursable, authorized a new bank signatory and adopted a communications code of conduct.
GRAND ISLAND, Neb. — The Nebraska State Fair Board voted Aug. 22 to transfer $1.5 million from its capital and operating reserve accounts to pay for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) projects where reimbursement is not expected, a move board leaders said is intended to keep contractors current while other funding is pursued.
The motion to approve the transfer was made by Board Secretary John McKeever and seconded by board member Alan Kahle; it passed on a roll call vote. Executive Director Jaime Parr told the board that although the fair is seeking other funding sources, those funds are not yet secured and invoices from contractors are arriving. Parr said some project work is already completed and the board is trimming costs where possible.
The transfer is intended to allow work to continue without disrupting contracts while staff seeks reimbursements or alternative funding. The board did not specify which specific line items would be charged to the reserve transfer at the meeting; Parr said only that bills are coming in and that leadership is prioritizing payments to contractors and construction firms who have already performed work.
Other actions at the meeting included routine financial approvals and administrative housekeeping. The board approved the July financial statements after a presentation by financial reviewer Joe Stump; the motion to approve was made by Beth Smith and seconded by John McKeever and passed on a roll call vote.
The board also authorized an administrative banking change: Vice Chair Tom Schellpeper moved and Lanna Hubbard seconded a motion to add incoming Business Administrator Breanna Kozisek as an authorized signer on the State Fair's account at 5 Points Bank. Director Jaime Parr explained the change follows the departure of Business Administrator Tammy Baker and Kozisek’s assumption of the business-administrator duties. The motion passed on a roll call vote.
Board members adopted a Board of Directors Code of Conduct in Communications after a motion from Dawn Caldwell and a second from Lanna Hubbard. No dissent was recorded on the roll call vote.
Fair logistics and participation numbers were also discussed: Ryan Hassebrook provided preliminary counts for entries and Kathleen Lodl estimated the fair will welcome roughly 42,000 exhibitors across livestock and static exhibits; Lodl noted that Sunday is designated 4-H Day and the event will host a free Dairy Store ice cream distribution in the Party Pit.
The board heard updates from the 1868 Foundation about VIP events and fundraising, and Executive Director Jaime Parr presented operational updates including parking adjustments for a planned marathon. Parr also announced the nomination of Jim Rutledge for the Lifetime Pass Award; Lanna Hubbard moved to approve the nomination, Kevin Havlovic seconded, and the board approved it by roll call vote.
The board recessed after completing its agenda.
Next steps: staff will proceed with payments to contractors as approved and continue to pursue reimbursements and other funding sources for the ARPA projects. The board did not set a public follow-up timeline for final accounting of the reserve transfer at the meeting.
