Several people have addressed the ongoing issue regarding the poor management and operation of the fairgrounds, their out spoken comments and direct questions to the commissioners and to the fair board has caused a uproar and become problematic to both boards. The facts and questions being raised by the concerned public, is not being welcomed, and has hit a soar spot, especially with county commissioner, Rita Bernhard. Her remarks in the Spotlight, could not be misconstrued, her contempt, and dislike, for those who are raising questions are apparent by her antagonistic comments. Bernhard accused these folks as trying to get rid of the fair this is absolutely not true. Since when is standing up for a charitable group, and people in need a crime? Problems that have concerned the public are the charges that the fair board is applying to all non-profit groups, all stemming from the fair boards untimely, and non-community support of the Kiwanis Christmas Basket project, while the fair board increases the charges to this charitable group every year, the fair board expects the community to volunteer and financially support their fair/board.
The local fish wrapper, Scappoose Spotlight editor has made comments about the fair and how it is one of the best in the state, I would like the editor of the Spotlight to name a few of the other fairs in the state that Columbia County out performs, it might be interesting. Following: is my response to the Spotlight's opinion issue, regarding this volatile issue.
Evidently you have not been around neighboring Hillsboro's fair, if you perceive that the Columbia County Event Complex is one of the finest facilities in the state of Oregon. Where have all the volunteers gone? Volunteers use to run the fair. Why have prominent businessmen quit the fair board? Why didn't the fair use the 'free" money from the concerts to repair the buildings? Do your homework sir; the taxpayers have been bailing the fair out. The more money the fair gets the less financial responsible they become. Your comment that many nonprofits already receive one taxpayer subsidy, in the form of a 501(c)3, and well they should, since they do not make a profit, all they collect from various activities all goes back to the community. I guess its ok for the fair to use free water from a fire hydrant that has no meter, for the horse arena and race track, from the neighboring water district, I wonder if the rate payers know this? I call this being a hypocrite! The ole fountain of crap that has spewed from the sewer to run on top of the ground and run off into Milton creek is ok too I guess; the decision to fix this was, Cut the pipe off at ground level, so people cant see it, Yes sir! The fair administrator is doing a fine job.
Note: The fair then charges the race people and horse people for the water. The Kiwanis were filling baskets NOT raising money.
Washington Count y fair/ (Hillsboro) admission is FREE
The fair board has given the security job to an outside company, (Lyle Mc Gregor) instead of using the Sheriff's Posse; in fact they awarded the bid before the bid date expired. I do not know if it was deliberate or they do not understand contracts and the process of awarding bids. Not good business moves. They like to deny volunteers, instead they like to hire from a temp agency. They give out so many: Free" passes that the $$$amount is around $35,000.00. They have had groups such as the Master Gardeners take over the running of the flower building, I might add that the flowers had wilted away to almost no flowers for display, and the group has turned that floral building around. The only problem, I am told, is now the fair wants to charge the master gardener's to over see the Floral Building. This fair has no shame.
They have even decided to notify the ladies that run the quilt area, (only a few days in advance of fair start), that if they over see that dept. that they cannot enter any quilts in the fair. Even though the ladies have been working on quilts all year to enter in the fair. I can understand having an outside judge, to judge the quilts, but it was always my thought, the more things that you have to look at the fair, the more attendance you will have. I thought that was the idea in having a fair, the more the merrier?
The fair grounds are supported by tax dollars, the fair grounds is a community focus point, and should be used as such. I think that the public should take the time to go down to the commissioners office, set up a time and review the bills of the fair grounds, if you do, I think that you to will have questions, questions that you will want answered, you will have comments of your own and most likely be chastised for your efforts.
The county commissioners have full control of the fair grounds, since it is county property. The selling of fair property/ leasing of fair property/ renting fair property/all falls under the jurisdiction of the county commissioners. The fair board does the day to day decision making, but ultimately the county commissioners have full say, if they so choose, on every decision that is made concerning the fair grounds. Read ORS 565