Fair board talks Great Northern Fair preparations

Editor’s note: This version adds comment from Emily Mayer about proposed talks about the Faber Schoolhouse and Homestead Shack.

The Great Northern Fair Board announced at their monthly meeting Tuesday that new bathrooms are being installed on the fairgrounds in front of the grandstand and they are on track to be operational by this year’s fair.

The board approved at the meeting a bid to install the foundation for these new bathrooms, with board member Ken Erickson saying they should have the building set up and the bathrooms operational in time for the Great Northern Fair July 19 - 23.

Board Vice-Chair Bob Kaul said they’ve been working hard to get ahead of the fairgrounds maintenance and upkeep this past month so they have time to get as much of the grounds ready for the fair as possible.

He also said the bathrooms in the Bigger Better Barn have been upgraded, with the help of funds given to them by Hill County 4-H, with new toilets, and they are now handicap accessible.

Fairgrounds Manager Frank English said he’s interviewing applicants for their secretary position and two groundskeepers in preparation for the fair and is working on getting passes, posters, ribbons and more ready for the event as well.

The board also discussed a request from the Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line to have the operating hours of their food stand changed.

The board didn’t make a decision on the matter as the present members wanted to wait until they had a full board to further discuss the matter, as two members, including Board Chair Michelle Burchard, were absent.

Erickson said he wants to help the club out, but everyone with a food booth has the same required hours and if they grant an exception to them, they will need to start giving exceptions to everyone.

Club Director Tim Brurud said he understands Erickson’s concern, but their staffing situation is such that they cannot physically be open during the required hour.

He said they’re happy to pay the fine if that’s what’s required, but he is hoping the board can work out some kind of arrangement.

The board tabled the issue and said they would likely hold a special meeting later this week to vote on the issue with all members present.

During the meeting the board also discussed a proposal by English to have Emily Mayer run tours of the fairgrounds including some of the structures owned by the H. Earl Clack Memorial Museum.

English said Mayer contacted him and was hoping to showcase the area’s history which he thinks is a good idea, but they might need to go to the Hill County Commission to get permission.

Hill County Commissioner Sheri Williams was present as a member of the public and said permission to use the museum’s property would have to be given by the museum board, not the commission.

English said the commission governs both the fair and museum boards and he was told that they would be the people to get permission from.

Erickson said it seems like Mayer is trying to sidestep the museum board, and if she wants to arrange something like this she would need to go to them.

Mayer told Havre Daily News that English approached her about doing something during the fair, not the other way around. She said he suggested she talk about the Faber Schoolhouse and Homestead Shack on the fairgrounds, but he knew they belonged to the museum.

“I could, however, talk about the history of both structures but not go inside,” Mayer said. “I don't need anyone’s permission to talk about Havre and Hill County history.”

The board also discussed potentially cutting its advertising costs, shifting away from traditional media to social media.

Erickson said they were told in recent marketing classes they attended that the newspaper is the worst place to advertise and the radio isn’t much better and they should be looking at alternatives.

However, he said, he’d like to get fellow board member Michelle Burchard’s opinion on the matter, as she is the head of their finance committee.