Fair board praised for work in tough times

Hill County Commissioner Jeff Lavoi commended the Great Northern Fair Board for its resilience and service to the county, during a special planning meeting of the board at the Havre-Hill County Library Wednesday night.

“This board has handled a bunch of tough situations lately,” said Lavoi, who went on to thank the board for their work.

The expression of gratitude comes less than a week after the death of fair board Chair Alma Seidel Sunday, and fallout from the abrupt dismissal of fairgrounds Manager Mike Sharp. Earlier this year, the board also endured the death of longtime fair board Chair Bert Corcoran and departure of fair manager Tim Solomon after the board proposed changing requirements of the position.

At a meeting last week, board members received a tongue lashing from some county residents for failing to disclose why they dismissed Sharp at an unannounced Oct. 8 meeting. The minutes of the earlier meeting, along with Sharp's termination were later rescinded after it was determined the meeting had not been properly posted as required by the state’s open meeting laws.

Fair board members said they are looking to make revisions to the official job description before they begin the hiring process.

In other items covered at the meeting, the board approved a motion to schedule the 2016 Great Northern Fair for July 20-24, a week before the Great Falls Fair. Board members said they are looking to use another carnival company other than Brown Amusements who provided the rides in recent years. Many residents criticized the lack of rides for older fairgoers.

Board member Scott Doney said their decision is less to do with the board, and more with “the community (having) lost faith in Brown.”