Fair Board Doubles Down Against Bonner CommissionMEN
by Shari Dovale
For many months now, since the inception of the newest Bonner County Commission Board (BOCC), the 2 CommissionMEN have had a seemingly secret agenda to force down the throats of the county citizens.
It seems to be a secret agenda because every time they are asked specific questions, on the record, they choose to avoid answering. The most common question is “Why this particular piece of land?”
If a new RV campground is so important, and if it is really the motivation of these 2 men, then placing it on other land, that is already under the control of the Fair board, would be a reasonable solution. However, they insist that they can ONLY place the RV campground on this particular piece of property, which has been designated for a new Justice Center for the county.
Commissioner Luke Omodt has repeated that he wants to wait to include the Fair board in the decision making, yet he refuses to allow them to participate. He does not invite them to working meetings, or asks for their input.
He has also stated that the Fair is under the authority of the Commissioners. This is his position in a nutshell, however misguided that statement is. He is in charge, and he answers to no one.
By Idaho Code Title 22, and The BOCC Rules & Responsibilities as written by the Idaho Association of Counties, the Fair board has specific responsibilities, as do the Board of County Commissioners.
The commissioners are not supposed to tell the board what to do or how to do it. That is not their “wheelhouse” as Chairman Bradshaw likes to spout. The commissioners appointed the board and now it is up to the BOCC to step back and let these volunteers do their jobs.
Title 22 states very clearly, “The county fair board shall not […] mortgage or otherwise pledge or encumber any of the real or personal property owned by the county and used for fair purposes.”
If the fair board were to accept this contested property, they would be accepting encumbered land, which could be argued violates state law.
The fair board is tired of the shenanigans from the 2 CommissionMEN. They want out of the mess these men have created. They never asked for this piece of property. They didn’t even ask for the grant to build an RV campground. They have not been a part of any plans for this project and were not part of the requests for money.
Due to these concerns, the fair board posted a notice to the community that made it clear:
Will this put an end to this months-long controversy? Or will Commissioner Omodt tell, yet again, how his family camped at the fair and needs to do so again?
After being shot down on 2 separate plans for that select piece of property, both RV campground and an ice rink, will Chairman Bradshaw come up with some new use that is dire and vital to the county… and is not a justice center?
Let’s not hold our collective breath that these 2 ding-dongs will give up on taking this land from the people and denying us a justice center.
There are actually two steps to that. First, the population must be greater than 200,000. Second, IF that requirement is met, then an ordinance must be passed designating the fair board as an advisory committee in order for that to be in effect. It doesn’t become an advisory committee until BOTH of those conditions are met. It’s important to read in context and in its entirety, not just pick and choose a few words that support a position.
TITLE 22
AGRICULTURE AND HORTICULTURE
CHAPTER 2
COUNTY FAIR BOARDS
22-204. Duties of county fair board — Bonds of members — Meetings — Further duties. The county fair board shall be charged with the care and custody of all property belonging to the county and used for fair purposes, and shall be responsible for all moneys received by it, raised by tax levy or levies for fair purposes as well as all receipts from the operation of the fair and any other moneys received from other sources for fair purposes. Each member of the county fair board shall file with the board of county commissioners a bond or other form of financial responsibility suitable to the county commissioners in the sum of not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000) to be approved by the board of county commissioners. The county fair board shall conduct all of its business at the place designated by the board of county commissioners as the place for conducting the county fair, which shall be the place of business of the county fair board. It shall meet at such times and places as the county fair board deems necessary in compliance with the open meeting law.
It shall safely keep or cause to be safely kept all moneys coming into its care, custody or possession in strict compliance with the provisions of the public depository law of this state. It shall formulate in writing and file in its office all plans adopted by it from time to time in connection with the conduct of the business of the county fair, and also file a copy of the same with the board of county commissioners of the county. It shall keep or cause to be kept proper records of its proceedings, business transactions, and true and proper accounts of all moneys received by it and expended or on hand; and it shall require proper vouchers evidencing all disbursements of money. The records of the board shall be open to inspection by any taxpayer or voter within the county during all regular office hours. The board shall publish in at least one (1) issue of the official newspaper of the county a detailed statement of all moneys received and expended in connection with the operation of any fair or fairs, within ninety (90) days after the holding of any such fair within the county.
It shall take charge of and manage all such property as the county may have acquired or set aside for fair purposes pursuant to the provisions of section 31-822, Idaho Code. It may recommend to the board of county commissioners that such board purchase such real and personal property as may be needed for fair purposes. It shall have power to employ labor, award prizes, make exhibition contracts, fix and charge admission and entrance fees, let contracts for concessions or services to be conducted at the fair or under the direction of the county fair board, but if any concession or service is to extend for a period of less than twelve (12) days in a calendar year, the concession or service may be awarded without bid, and do all other things necessary for holding county fairs. It shall fix the salaries of the secretary and treasurer and prescribe the time and manner of payment. The county fair board shall not have the power to create any indebtedness in excess of the amount to be derived from the special levies for each year and the estimated income from annual fair receipts, nor shall it mortgage or otherwise pledge or encumber any of the real or personal property owned by the county and used for fair purposes.
22-202A. Designation of county fair board as advisory body. In counties with a population of two hundred thousand (200,000) persons or more, the board of county commissioners may provide by ordinance that the county fair board shall function as an advisory board to the board of county commissioners. If such an ordinance is adopted, the board of county commissioners shall retain and may exercise the powers, duties, and responsibilities otherwise charged to the county fair board by the provisions of this chapter. Any such ordinance shall set forth the powers, duties, responsibilities, compensation, and terms of office of the county fair board and may provide for any such other rules and regulations under which the county fair board shall advise the board of county commissioners and conduct its operations. Any such ordinance may be repealed at any time, and if repealed, the provisions of this chapter shall apply as if no such ordinance had been adopted. The provisions of this section shall not be applicable to fair districts in two (2) or more counties organized pursuant to chapter 3, title 22, Idaho Code.
According to this, the county commissioners are tasked with “may exercise the powers, duties, and responsibilities otherwise charged to the county fair board by the provisions of this chapter.” The fair board is just an advisory board. Their advice need not be acted upon.
Can’t see what your problem is. Vote the people off if you don’t like them. But it your candidate of choice loses, deal with it like any ordinary citizen.
Except that Bonner county population is well under 200,000. Actually under 52,000.
22-202A. Designation of county fair board as advisory body.
Please re-read.
The county set up the fair board under 22-202A. They must follow those rules.
Once again, you disagree with their decision, vote the county commissioners out. If they win again, deal with it.
All applies IF the population is over 200,000, which it is not.