Port, county have first look at fair proposal

Wahkiakum County commissioners and their counterparts from Port District No. 2 are far apart on a possible agreement to transfer management of the county fairgrounds from the county to the port district.

Commissioners from Port 2 made the suggestion late last year, and the two boards began discussing the possibility in January. County commissioners asked port commissioners for a written proposal, and that came to the table Tuesday for a workshop discussion attended by over a dozen supporters of the county fair who expressed their concern that the move would adversely impact the fair.

During the discussion, county commissioners expressed dissatisfaction with parts of the proposal and suggested port commissioners meet with the county fair board to discuss issues and concerns and return with a new proposal.

Port commission President Lori Scott said the port commissioners created the proposal by sending ideas to port attorney Tim Hanigan who edited and compiled them. They included:

--The port would acquire the fairgrounds property from the county. The port wouldn't lease.

--The port would maintain the property, provide insurance and a park host and pay utilities.

--The county would disclose any code violations or environmental hazards.

--The port encourages the use of the property for the fair. It would rent the property to the county for the fair and other fundraising activities. The county would pay $10,000 per year for five years for property maintenance and upgrades.

--The county or some other entity would be responsible for employing the fair manager.

--When the property wasn't being used for the fair, it would be rented for other activities such as the annual Dollars for Scholars events.

--The proposal is to be considered only as a starting point for discussion.

Commissioner Mike Backman, the county commission's representative to the fair board, led off in voicing the county board's objections.

"There's a lot of red flags," he said.

First, he said he objected to selling the property to the port district, and second, he couldn't support going along with the $10,000 payments for five years.

"There's no win/win here," he said. "I don't see any benefit for giving up property worth thousands of dollars."

"A couple million," commented county Commissioner Blair Brady.

Commissioner Dan Cothren echoed Backman's concerns.

"I don't see that all parties prosper," he said.

Commissioner Blair Brady also agreed, adding that if the port tied up the fair grounds for economic development activities, fair uses would be curtailed.

Port commissioners explained their thinking.

One reason for taking ownership of the property, Scott said, is that maintaining and improving it will take a lot of money and a lot of work.

"We would like to own the property we're putting our money into," she said.

She added that the $10,000 payments were suggested to help pay for a major improvement to electrical service on the fairgrounds.

Port Commissioner Kayrene Gilbertsen commented that there is vacant property on the fairgrounds that could be developed along side fair uses and create new jobs and new revenue.

"We can't take on property and maintenance without revenue," she said.

Port Commissioner Brian O'Connor emphasized that the port plows money from each park back into the parks.

He also commented port commissioners feel there is tremendous potential to develop Fairgrounds Park, which would be a revenue source.

Port commissioners also emphasized they want to support the fair.

Earlier in the Tuesday meeting of the county commissioners, supporters of the fair urged the county commission not to interfere with the fair's activities.

Fair Board Member Jean Beerbower displayed a large blue sheet of paper with signatures of 45 people saying, "Support our fair."

"There are a lot of people with a lot of questions that we can't answer, she said.

"There have been no backroom deals or nothing done under the table," Brady said. "We're trying to find a way to keep things sustainable.

"You have to have the dialogue. We're looking for options. The economics of managing the fairgrounds needs to be improved."