Allen County commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to obligate up to $30,000 for each of the next five years to make improvements to Allen County Fair buildings.
Fair board members proposed a five-year plan several months ago, and a week ago asked commissioners to provide $30,000 for roof improvements to several livestock barns.
Commissioner Jerry Daniels suggested a capital improvement fund and, in a bow to Commissioner Jim Talkington, added commissioners would have final say on bids. Talkington worried that handing over $30,000 a year might lead to a slush fund, and an urge to spend the excess without identifying need.
“I’d rather have more control than just writing a check,” he said.
“We’ve no problem with that,” said Carla Nemecek, agriculture Extension agent and member of the fair board. Jerry Middendorf, another board member, also was involved in presenting the plan.
The county provides $11,000 a year for the conduct of the annual fair, $5,000 of which goes to 4-H programs, judges and materials. Middendorf noted a recent audit of 2016 fair expenses found $2,400 alone was spent during fair week on utilities.
The fair board has a 99-year lease on buildings dedicated to fair use in Riverside Park — they and the ground they’re on are owned by Iola. The lease was negotiated in 1966 between fair board members and the city. County Counselor Alan Weber said it might be wise to upgrade the lease, which “is just a page-and-a-half long.”
Nemecek said she visited with Iola Administrator Sid Fleming and he agreed a memorandum of understanding should be developed to lay out how the city might assist with the fair.
Nemecek said in an effort to make the fair more participatory and visitor-friendly 4-H entries and livestock would be brought to the fair on Thursday, July 27, so all could be in place during the rodeo on Friday and Saturday nights, and the Iola Rotary Club’s Day in the Park, featuring a car show and barbecue cook-off on Saturday. While not set in stone, “we think it will be popular and get more people involved,” she said.
The fair will end on Monday night with the livestock auction.
Commissioners also agreed to raises for employees and department heads. All will receive a .3 percent cost of living raise. Employees further will share in 4.7 percent set aside for merit raises, decided by department heads, in addition to COLA, 2.5 percent raises. Commissioners will receive on the .3 percent COLA.
IN OTHER NEWS, commissioners:
— Voted unanimously to retain the Register as its official county newspaper. Legal notices also will be published in the Humboldt Union.
— Accepted a bid of $10.50 a plate from Stacy Cakes, Humboldt, to provide food for the county employees appreciation meal on Feb. 21. The county has about 100 full-time employees.
— Heard a request from Cindy Lane, of the Regional Area Agency on Aging, for commissioners to increase its budgetary allotment from $2,000 to $10,000 for 2018. AAA provides several things to Allen Countians, such as home-delivered frozen meals and disease prevention, caregiver and home services.
— Accepted a bid from Superior Builders, Iola, of $3,945 for upgrades to the District Court room. Superior’s was the lower of two bids.
