SPECIAL JOINT GALLATIN COUNTY FAIR BOARD
January 11, 2006 Minutes
(as Approved on the January 17, 2006 Meeting)
ATTENDANCE:
Fair Board Member Present – Bob Brekke, Jim Oberhofer, Blair Howze
Foundation Board Member Present – Lorna Simard, Bob Brekke, Lowell Springer, Martin Heckel, Mike Gaffke, Mike Ray
Guests - Harry Huntsinger, Travis Burian
Staff – Sue Shockley, Debbie Ehlert – Secretary
Advisor – Al Lien
Public – Sonja Berg
1. CALL TO ORDER: Vice-Chairman Blair Howze called the meeting to order at 6:06 p.m.
2. SPONSORSHIP UPDATE: Harry Huntsinger presented information on a couple of different groups of potential investors that may be interested in donating funds to build an event center at the fairgrounds. Harry and Travis met with Fay Ranches at Moonlight Basin and they were invited to have a meeting to present the Fairgrounds goals and visions of what the Fair Board and Foundation want to achieve.
Discussion from the Fair Board and Foundation members addressed where the Fairgrounds wants to be in 10-20 years. Discussion from the Fairgrounds and Foundation Board members discussed the fact that up until now the Fairgrounds vision was on a very small scale and based on day to day existence and crisis management and that they had to get beyond that point and plan for the future. Board members discussed working on a feasibility study and a concept ional drawing for a multi-purpose event center in order to be able to present it in a meeting to the potential investors.
Board members present discussed meeting with the County commissioners to remind them of their agreement with the Fair Board allowing them to build an Event Center as long as it did not cost Gallatin County any money and to present the County Commissioners and the Mayor with the plans that they were working on in a professional and competent manner. Lowell Springer suggested setting up an endowment fund that would relieve Gallatin County from the expense of funding the maintenance of the Event Center.
Discussion regarding working through the levels of bureaucracy and obtaining a favorable public opinion were presented. Discussion regarding a portfolio booklet and presentation regarding convenience, possible investment return and future profitability, benefits to potential investors and community, international market and airport access.
Al Lien presented the discussion about what does the Foundation and the Fair Board want to do. Blair Howze presented the discussion about how to get from the 1950 accent to a 2020 multi-purpose event center. Both the Foundation Board members and the Fairground Board members agreed that this was too good of an opportunity to not pursue.
Lowell Springer made a motion with the recommendation to pursue the funding for the multi-function Event Center and to send to the Fair Board with approval. Blair Howze seconded the motion. Discussion called. All were in favor. No opposed. Motion carried.
3. RETREAT – Sue suggested arranging a time for a retreat with the Fair Board and Foundation Board members after Winterfest is over.
4. ADJORNMENT – Vice-Chairman Blair Howze adjourned the meeting at 8:06PM.
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