I believe that the joint meeting between the county commissioner and the fair board was a result of several individuals who spoke out against the way the fair board was carrying out business, the fair has been in a spiraling down turn for several years. The down turn is contributed to poor relations with the community, ill-treatment of volunteers, who have been major contributors to the fair in the past decades. The problem with the fair board has been festering for several years, and finally came to a head this past December, when a group of community minded individuals finally had enough, and decided to try and straighten out the fair board. The last straw for the community was when the board decided to charge the Kiwanis far beyond the cost of utilities to use the pavilion to fill food baskets for the county's needy, and for the flood victims of the county.
I am overjoyed ,that this group of individuals who took on the fair board, and actually stuck with the harsh criticism that they received from certain members of the fair board and one county commissioner, who has been putting out propaganda that this group of individuals are trying to shut down the fair. To the contrary, this group of individuals is community members who own businesses, belong to non-profit charities, and are activists that are involved in the community in many diverse ways, and support the fair.

The meeting between the commissioners and the fair board went fairly well until, chairperson Evelyn Hudson and fair administrator Rhonda Courtney started to show their true colors when Commissioner Hyde gave them some criticism, and yet offered ideas to help the fair, a number of times commissioner Hyde had to reign both women in and correct their defensive and hostile attitudes. Hyde got only a small amount of rudeness compared to what the public is accustomed to, by these two women. Hyde commented to the board of Maygra's  5-6 pages of ideas and said that they were very good, and they should use them, thinking out side of the box was important. (In February, Maygra was offered to react on several ideas but was not given the authority by the board to carry on)

Commissioner Corsiglia offered some good ideas as well, such as adding two more fair board members to help distribute the work so projects can get done, and ease the load off the other board members, he suggested that the two new members come from the Birkenfield and Clatskanie area, after all the fair is a county wide event ,not just St. Helens and Scappoose area. Which the attending public murmured was a good idea, I also believe commissioner Hyde agreed as well. This is when the outburst from Rita came.

COMMISSIONER RITA BERNHARD'S OUTBURST

Once again Rita Bernhard proved that she is hostile and a bit off her bean, to the group of individuals who was attending the joint meeting, this is the same group whom she had accused prior in a interview with the Spotlight. Accusing the group of trying to shut the fair down. This time her ranting and raving was also directed at Corsiglia and his idea to get two more members on the board, Bernhard said that if there were new board members than we must have people who want to really help the fair, QUOTE: "Beware there is a group of people who want to get on the board to destroy the fair".
Bernhard continued to exasperate the attending crowd, with her inflammatory comments, which had no merit. Courtney chimed in with we just cant get anybody to sit on the fair board.
This comment is absolutely untrue, they have had good people who have joined the fair board only to quit because of Ms. Courtney and Ms. Hudson's vile and contemptuous attitude and behavior. One such person was a local businessman who donates greatly to the community and is an easy going and likeable guy. Other people from the accused group have tried for years to get on the board but are never allowed on.

After the meeting Bernhard and Tammy Maygra had a frank and heated discussion over Bernhard's inappropriate remarks over the accused group, Maygra proceeded to tell Bernhard that she was way off the mark accusing the group of ladies and gentleman that they were trying to destroy the fair, Maygra mentioned that everyone of the group at one time or another donated to the fair in one way or the other, volunteered, ran categories for the fair, donated money etc.. Maygra also refreshed Bernhard's mind, that she had written up 5-6 pages of new and fresh ideas for the fair board to consider in improving the fair and bringing in more attendance, etc.. so how could Bernhard accuse her of trying to shut the fair down.

Bernhard responded that she was "tired of people coming to the commissioner's board meetings and asking questions and costing the county thousands of dollars, I have no idea what Bernhard was ranting about, Bernhard said that the same group of people are nothing but trouble makers never offering a positive outcome for any issue that they are doing, Again this is balderdash! Others and myself have always offered positive solutions for every issue that we have gone before the board with, it is not our fault that the board often does not react to our suggestions.

As a citizen of this United states I told Rita Bernhard that it IS my RIGHT as an American to attend any and all public meetings which I so choose, it is also my RIGHT as a American to voice my opinion on any given subject whether she approves, or agrees with my opinion or not, that I will continue to research issues. I could careless what Bernhard's opinion of me is.
Bernhard also accused others of not volunteering at the fair, this statement brought over a few of the accused group where they proceeded to give Rita an ear full on her frivolous statements.
It is sad that Bernhard's apparent dislike for this group of people is more personal that professional, and does not really have anything to do with issues at hand, I believe that any issue, that this group decides to address, will meet with scorn, and defensiveness from Commissioner Bernhard.
Bernhard says that we need to use positive energy to solve problems, I agree with that remark, but when you try to be involved and supportive, and are met with hostility and distain, people tend to walk away, which many have done, until Bernhard practices what she preaches, we will all be at odds, and the status quo will be the result and nothing will get resolved, being positive or not.