Fair board sets new spending rules

Because of a shortage of money coming in and rising expenses, any money spent on purchases or repairs by Great Northern Fairgrounds manager Dave Brewer or members of the Fair board will have to gain the approval of the board’s Finance committee, Finance Committee member Ray Kallenberger said at the board’s monthly meeting Monday night.

He said the decision was made following an Aug. 4 meeting that he and Brewer, Fair Board Chair Paul McCann and board members Jack Solomon and Scott Doney had with Hill County Commissioners Mark Peterson and Diane McLean and Treasurer Sandy Brown had about the finances of the fairgrounds.

“Bottom line expenses are increasing and our revenue is decreasing,” Kallenberger said.

He said the rule went into effect the day after the meeting when some water and power issues needed to be handled on the fairgrounds.

The fairgrounds will have to look at ways to pare back spending in some areas and increase revenue, Kallenberger said, adding that the committee has discussed ways to do so.

Kallenberger said he was confident that, with some work, the board can improve the fairground’s fiscal situation.

Some money could soon be coming the fairgrounds’ way to repair buildings, in the form of an insurance payment made to the county for hail damage to buildings on the fairgrounds.

McLean told the board that the county will likely receive in the neighborhood of $450,000 to make repairs to buildings on the fairgrounds.  

She said the county sent an email to Hartford Insurance, the insurance company handling the claim, and the commissioners hope to get a response sometime soon and the fair board can move forward with deciding what repairs need to be made.

The original amount the county expected was less, but a lead paint abatement both increased the amount of money and delayed the process, McLean.

She said she met with representatives with Built Wright Homes & Roofing Inc., the contractor that will make the needed repairs, and told them the fair board will set the schedule of repairs.