DISCUSSION … Williams County Fair Board held their monthly meeting and discussed multiple new business items. (PHOTO BY LINDSAY PHILLIPS, STAFF)
By: Lindsay Phillips
Williams County Fair Board began their monthly meeting on November 17 at 7:00 p.m. in the Fair Office.
President, Pam Goll called the meeting to order and followed those in attendance in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
Linda Gray, who worked the grandstands at this past year’s fair, shared, “I handled the money, took the tickets, but handling the money got to my mind about how easily someone could come up and grab that money.”
“The society we live in is not good, I talked to Mr. Fry about having a table to put the money in, that way it’s not as easy to steal the money.”
Gray added, “A lot of people ask us why there’s prices for kids to get in the show, so what is actually the age that we begin charging?”
David Page answered Gray and stated, “The reason we charge is accountability. We’ve need to have a head count that goes in the grandstand and the only way to do that is by charging.”
“That’s coming straight from the fire marshal. If catastrophe happens, we have known the head count.”
Director Matt Kennedy added, “Especially, like for the demo derby’s reserved seating, I have a four-year-old grandson and I’ll tell you right now he’s not going to sit on my lap the whole time he’s going to want to sit by himself or what not and that takes up the reserved seating.”
Gray made one last point, “A lot of the people are complaining that we stamp their hands to get back in, and then stamp other people, and then stamp them with the same stamp.”
President Pam Goll, thanked Gray for sharing and stated, “We will rectify that for next year.”
Minutes from the previous October meeting were approved. No financial report was given as the treasurer had an ill child at home.
During committee reports, David Page asked for a budget of $1,000 dollars for advertising for the spring flea market and swap meet. A motion was approved to add the budget item to the agenda.
Page announced, “The winter storage is a little over 21,000, the hog barns full, the grandstands full, sheep barn is full, there’s a little room in the dairy farm, the horse barn is full and so is the showing arena. We have room for boats and boats only.”
The following items were approved by the Board:
- Signers for checking Account-Executive Committee
- Signers for Livestock Chair, Livestock Chair, President and Vice President.
- Signers for savings accounts F&M and State Bank, President and Vice president
- Financial institutions F&M, State Bank and Career Bank
- Standing Policies
A motion was made at 7:20 p.m. to enter executive session to discuss personnel that concluded at 7:33.
Following the first executive session, another motion was made to enter a second executive session to discuss contracts. The session concluded at 7:50 with no action taken.
Goll opened the floor to discuss the upcoming 2023 Fair Schedule. Although no decisions were made, the Board was asked to brainstorm and come up with fresh new ideas to bring more people and money into the Fair.
Williams County Fair Board scheduled their Board’s Christmas Party for January 7.
A large donation of $2,000 dollars was made and accepted to the Swine Barn Roof by the Williams County Pork Producers.
A budget of $1,000 dollars was approved by the board for the swap meet and spring flea market for advertising.
Throughout announcements, noard members were instructed to turn in committee requests by December 5, and to purchase their Ag. Society Memberships.
During the winter months, the fair office will be closed and by appointment only.
With no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 8:25 p.m.
Lindsay can be reached at lindsay@thevillagereporter.com