Fair Board votes to move forward on projects despite chance of fair being canceled

Despite the chance that the 2020 Great Northern Fair could be canceled due to coronavirus concerns, The Great Northern Fair Board continued to discuss and vote on projects in preparation for this year’s fair.

During the public comments section Stacy Baldwin of Baldwin Insurance, who has expressed interest in sponsoring a band for the fair discussed the logistics of doing that.

The board did not make any solid plans for the sponsorship because it is something they’d never done before.

“We don’t have a mechanism for that,” Fair Board Chair Tyler Smith said, “that’s not something that’s readily done.”

Members of the board said they were open to anyone who wanted to sponsor an event at the fair, but requested that interested parties contact Board Member Bobbie Dolphay.

But Smith said the discussion of sponsorships and events are made more complicated due to COVID-19.

“There is a very real possibility that there is no fair whatsoever this year,” Smith said, “… I think we have 60 days before we absolutely have to make a decision.”

Frank English then delivered the fairground manager’s report which prompted a discussion of upcoming events that face cancelation including the Hi-Line District Scouts Adult Pinewood Derby April 4, which the Scouts plan to reschedule, and potentially the 4-H Pig Sale Saturday.

Smith said the event would have to be canceled if more than 20 people showed up in accordance with the Hill County Health Departments guidelines.

“If more than 20 show up, we’re gonna have to close it down, because we have to follow the guidelines of the health department,” he said.

Smith proposed stretching the event out to multiple days in an attempt to thin out attendance without negatively affecting the profits of the event.

The board later discussed the upcoming Bares & Broncs event to be put on by Montana State University-Northern, which may also face cancelation.

The board held a brief discussion of when to open the campground, but no determination was made because of the weather.

The board unanimously approved a contract for the Commercial Building’s vendors. The contract states that nonprofits that won’t sell anything will be charged $50 for the week, non-profits that will sell items will be charged $75, and for-profit businesses will be charged $100.

The board then discussed projects related to the Bigger Better Barn, primarily whether to use spay foam to insulate the building or to keep the old insulation and use a liner for cosmetic enhancement instead.

“I don’t think removing the insulation that’s there now and putting spray foam is a good solution just because of unintended consequences,” Smith said.

He said the spray foam may encourage rust and make it difficult to replace the tin if needed in the future.

Clausen & Sons estimated that the liner would cost approximately $50,000. A motion was made to open and advertise a bid for the project at the next meeting of the fair board on April 21 at 5:30 p.m. with a price cap of $75,000. The motion was passed unanimously.

The board then discussed purchasing 120 panels to replace the barbed wire on the west and south sides of the fairground perimeter fence. Estimates were that the panels would cost $2,400. The board unanimously voted to proceed with the purchase.

The board also unanimously approved moving forward on using up to $10,000 of insurance money to make general repairs to the fairground’s office building.

These projects are expected to be finished by July 1.

Despite recent expenses, Board Member Ray Kallenberger said, the fair board is not short on funding yet.

“We’re still on target budget-wise,” Kallenberger said.

The board agreed April 25 would be the day for storage removal. But those who need to remove their equipment early will be allowed to if possible.