DEWAYNE HOLLOWAY
dewayne@mcnews.online
The Montgomery County Quorum Court revisited concerns brought by a group of residents regarding the Montgomery County Fair and the local fair association at their January meeting held Monday, January 6.
Concerns were raised during the October 2019 meeting where County Judge Sammy Jones asked persons on both sides to come up with a plan to bring improvements to the fair and fairgrounds.
Jennifer Barrett was the first to speak, doing so on behalf of the Montgomery County Fair Association. She shared that she had recently been elected as the new president of the board following the resignation of Jeff Robertson from the position.
She read from a maintenance plan that the fair board has developed to help prioritize improvements needed at the fairgrounds. The first item on the list is an application for a community building grant to help fund replacing the roof on the Ode Maddox Building. If there are enough funds in the grant they will also look at replacing ceiling tiles inside the building.
Sewer issues were also addressed. She stated that an inspection of the system had revealed a break in a sewer line. This break has caused the system to back up. They are working to get the sewer system repaired and working properly. Barrett added that the board had contacted the city of Mount Ida about connecting with the city’s sewer system, but the cost rendered that option not feasible at this time.
She listed several repairs around the fairgrounds that they are looking to make including repairs on storage buildings onsite.
The fair board is also renewing their application for metal bleachers through a state clearinghouse. If approved they would be able to replace sections of the current arena bleachers with metal bleachers at a low cost. If they do not get the metal bleachers they will repair the current bleachers as they are able.
A load of sand has been delivered to the arena and volunteers have offered to spread the sand where needed.
She also stated that they were gathering prices to repair the horse pens. The horse pens could be a source of revenue when the arena is used for rodeos and events.
She also mentioned that they were working to build new cattle tie-outs near the cattle barn and they are to discuss replacing wiring in the swine barn with new pens.
Barrett was excited to announce that the fair board has been working with three other counties to bring a carnival back to the midway. She explained that she had been approached by members of the Sevier County Fair Association about a partnership that would attract a carnival to the area. She stated that a carnival based in Texas has expressed interest in a short circuit that would include Montgomery County, Sevier County, Howard County and Little River County. In order to make this happen the Montgomery County Fair will have to be moved back a week.
She added that they had discussed moving the fair to September, but had decided to keep it in August. She explained that Snow Rodeo Company had stated they would not return to fair if it was held in September. The new carnival would also not be available in September.
Jeff Robertson addressed the JPs to answer questions asked about the financial status of the fair association. He stated that he had been fair association president for five years and added that he took a little bit of the blame for the fairgrounds not “looking like a new dime.”
He added that when he was elected president he tried to run the fair association like a business. In the past five years the general fund has increased from approximately $5,000 to just over $23,000. The construction account has increased from $1,500 to approximately $8,300 in the same time period.
JP Kenn Greene asked about vegetation growing into and under the walls of some of the buildings. He expressed concern to possible damage to the structures, as well as the aesthetic affect it has on visitors to events held at the fairgrounds.
Barrett stated that in the past Master Gardeners had landscaped the areas in question. Many of the plants used became invasive when not maintained regularly.
Kim Miller was given the floor to discuss concerns raised at the prior meeting.
She brought up a legislative audit which was conducted in 2014 which found several thousand dollars unaccounted for. No wrongdoing was suggested in the audit with poor bookkeeping reported as the possible cause. As a result of the audit requests were made by the quorum court to the fair association.
She also stated that while reviewing the financial records of the fair association that she had discovered some discrepancies in the month of August 2019. She mentioned two items which included a check written for over $500 for award buckles, while the line item for award buckles listed an amount less than that. She also cited a trip to Hot Springs where someone was reimbursed over $70 for mileage.
Barrett stated that Lisa Simpson, the fair association treasurer, could not attend the quorum court meeting due to a scheduling conflict. Barrett added that while she couldn’t provide an answer to each of the alleged issues she did know that the check for the award buckles was for all award buckles including rodeo royalty and mutton busting. The line item mentioned by Miller would have been for only some of the award buckles while the others would be included in other line items on the financial statement.
Miller stated that many of the improvements at the fairgrounds were on her plan as well.
She and other concerned residents recommended that the quorum court create a new fair association board of directors which would consist of members appointed by the Justices of the Peace. She also felt that fair association members should be county residents who have passed a background check before becoming a member.
She suggested new events be created such as a buyers luncheon for premium buyers at the livestock show, play days at the arena, overnight use, monster truck rallies, vendor events and political events.
Judge Jones addressed the recommendation to create a new fair board. He stated that he would have to look at the fair association by laws, but he didn’t think they quorum court could do that.
Judge Jones asked both sides to get together and work to make improvements happen. Judge Jones asked Miller and Barrett if they could work together to solve the issues addressed? Barrett stated that she was willing to work with anyone.
Misti Beggs asked if the quorum court could place different people over specific areas of the fair. She added that she didn’t think the fair board should be the ones selecting judges for the livestock shows. She later expressed that she was concerned that her speaking at the meeting might affect her child who participates in the county fair.
Miller stated that the problem is no one wants to work with Lisa Simpson and her family. She alleged that Lisa is confrontational and many are unable to talk to her. She also made accusations of drinking and fighting at the fair.
Barrett stated that Lisa Simpson was not present to defend herself. She did say that she wanted everyone who has an interest in the fair to come to the board meetings.
JP Johnette Rowland asked about the criteria for being a board member. Barrett stated that a person had to express a desire to be a board member and then they had to attend meetings for a year and help with work days. At the end of their year they would be voted on by the current board of directors. There are currently 18 members of the board of directors.
Rowland asked if they association board could suspend their by-laws to allow some new members to join the board sooner. Barrett stated that she would put it on the next agenda. The fair board’s next meeting will be held February 17 at 7 p.m. at the fairgrounds. Their meetings are usually held the third Monday of every month at 7 p.m. at the fairgrounds.
In other business:
JPs approved an appropriation ordinance that increases money budgeted for the extension service to pay the full time salary of a 4-H coordinator.
JPs approved an ordinance passed that sets the meeting date for the quorum court for the second Monday of each month at 6 p.m.
JPs approved an ordinance that establishes a line item for money collected through the motor fuel tax fund.
The final tax settlement for 2019 was presented to JPs.
County Clerk Penny Black addressed the court regarding a change her office had made to time cards used by county employees. The change includes a statement regarding hours worked and hours claimed by employees. She explained that the statement was added after she attended a meeting regarding the Fair Labor Standards Act. Counties are being sued over hours worked versus hours recorded on time cards. The statement was recommended as a way of protecting the county from a possible law suit.
