County seeks new fair manager

The resignation of the fair manager and the administrative assistant last week added another burden on the Sanders County Fair Commission, which is now down to three members – two of which are new.

Last Wednesday's monthly board meeting was nearly over when fair manager Chris McGuigan sprung the news that he was resigning, effective immediately. "I will no longer be with the fair when we finish the meeting tonight," said McGuigan, who has been the manager for the last two years and a member of the fair board for some 20 years. Lynn Felstet, the fairgrounds administrative assistant, followed immediately with her resignation, leaving the fair commission with only one experienced member, Roberta Smith, who's been with the board since 2000. The other two members, Randy Woods and Milanna Shear, both of Hot Springs, joined the fair recently, after three other members unexpectedly quit.

None of the three Sanders County Commissioners were at the meeting. Commissioner Carol Brooker found out the following day and said the resignations were a surprise. Woods, the mayor of Hot Springs since 2008 and the town's fire chief, joined the board late last year. He also has experience with 4-H, both as a parent and as a 4-H member as a boy. In addition, Woods served as the sheep barn superintendent for over two years in the 1990s. Shear joined the board last month.

The other two openings have not been filled, but Brooker is confident they'll have a full board by the March 20 meeting. Board members are two-year terms and volunteer positions, but get paid mileage.

The county has already advertised for a manager and assistant. The new manager would work an average of 30 hours a week, but varies by week and by season, and has a starting pay of $15.47 an hour, depending on experience. The manager is responsible for the planning and supervision of the fairgrounds, equipment and supplies throughout the year and for the smooth operation of the annual county fair and maintains the budget. According to the job description, the candidate must have a strong knowledge of maintenance, construction and repair skills, along with computer skills and be an effective public speaker.

Felstet had been with the fair just over a year and has offered to help with the transition. The administrative assistant position is about 20 hours a week, which also varies according to the season, and has a starting pay of $12.24. According to the job description, the assistant "performs a variety of technical and administrative tasks in support of department needs, including preparing correspondence, performing internal and external customer service, and researching and preparing reports." The person must also take meeting notes and assist with special projects.

"After all the action that happened with the fair this year, I don't need the stress in my life," McGuigan said after giving his formal resignation to Woods, the acting board chairman. "I've dedicated my life to this fair for 20 years. I was beat up. I think things could have been done and handled differently and I'm sorry to tell you this, but I'm done," he said.

Brooker said the loss of the staff and fair board members does put a burden on the board, but she said she was pleased that Smith decided to stay on after her last term was up in January. "We also have strong candidates that we are interviewing and will appoint after the 5th of March," the commissioner said.

Woods said he was sorry to see McGuigan leave, but he is confident the board will get the job done. "You have done more for this fair in the last couple years than a lot of other fair managers have done," Woods said at the meeting.

"I leave proud of what I've done. I've donated thousands of hours in the last 20 years to the benefit of this fair and had big dreams and big plans for this place, but I'm sure somebody else out there may have the same ability and the capability," said McGuigan, who added that he was glad to have left the fair in good financial order. Woods said that over the last two years, McGuigan has taken the fair from "being flat broke and borrowing money from the county to having huge cash reserves."

McGuigan reported earlier in the meeting that the fair was in the black some $140,000. He added that usually in February, the fair is in debt between $20,000 and $50,000. However, he told the board that there are major repairs needed on the fairgrounds. "The buildings are falling down and our expenses are higher every year. We got to keep up with the nation's six percent growth in our income or we're going to quit breaking even at some point," he said.

In turn, the board unanimously voted to raise event ticket sales by $2 per event and raise the parking fees to $10 a day. Parking had been $8 for Thursday and Friday and $10 for Saturday and Sunday. The $30 parking for the entire week will remain the same. Parking had gone up two years ago, but event ticket prices had not been raised since 2014.

The board tabled the election of officers until the March meeting, when they'll also discuss the carnival, which McGuigan said needs to be addressed soon. Woods talked with the owner of Paradise Amusements last week and said they want to return. Last year was the first year for the Idaho-based company.

The next board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 20, at 7 p.m. in the pavilion.