GALLATIN COUNTY FAIR BOARD
July 29, 2008 SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
(as approved on August 26, 2008 Meeting)
FAIR BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT – Bob Brekke, Chris Budeski, Dennis Farnham, Chuck Busta, Jim Oberhofer and Linda Warner ABSENT: Misty Radue
STAFF – Sue Shockley
COMMISSION – Joe Skinner
PUBLIC – Representing American Legion Baseball - Carl Craft, Len Albright, Ron Edwards, Pete Peck
Representing BAHA – Julie Keck, Marc Louw
1. CALL TO ORDER – Chairperson Bob Brekke called the meeting to order at 5:39PM.
2. BOZEMAN BASEBALL REQUEST TO IMPROVE MAIN PARKING LOT: Mr. Craft and Mr. Albright were in attendance, actually representing American Legion Post 14 in Bozeman. They came to ask if there was anything the Fair Board could do to improve the condition of the parking lot for the upcoming American Legion Baseball Regional Tournament, August 7-11, 2008. There will be 8 teams from Canada, Washington, Alaska, Idaho and Montana involved in the tournament. Ron Edwards and Pete Peck confirmed this is a very big event for their organization and it will have a very positive economic impact on our community since it will bring hundreds of people to the valley for several days. Bozeman Baseball has been working on their facility all summer to make improvements before the tournament. The concerns about the parking lot are that it is very rough, will become a mud hole if it rains and there really is no handicap accessible parking. This is a concern since Hillcrest Retirement Center is
sponsoring one day of the tournament. The Bozeman Baseball and American Legion representatives stated that they pay $2500 per year to the Fairgrounds and feel that a portion of that should go to the improvement of the parking lot. The baseball group stated that they have $270,000 debt service on the facility improvements and struggle just to cover those payments. The Fair Board informed them of the new fund the Fair Board has set up with the proceeds of parking fees going into a fund for parking lot improvements. There was a suggestion that Baseball charge for parking but their lease does not allow them to do that since they do not lease the parking lot. Although the Fair Board is very sympathetic, the most that they can offer at this time is to try to get someone in to grade the area and smooth it up. Hauling gravel on top of the ground in that area will be a waste since there is no solid base and anything hauled on top of it will disappear once
the area gets wet and muddy. The Baseball representatives asked if there was anything the County Road Dept. could do to which Joe Skinner responded he would not commit the Road Dept. to doing the work. After the discussion, it was decided that the Fairgrounds will try to get that area of the parking lot graded, the paved area in front of the Fairgrounds office could be designated as handicap parking and if possible the Fairgrounds will leave the barrels in the parking lot to help designate parking lines. When asked about all of the debris being dumped by Baseball in the northeast corner of the parking lot, the Board was assured that it would all be cleaned up.
3. BOZEMAN AMATUER HOCKEY ASSOCIATION REQUEST TO CONSTRUCT A SMALL BUILDING TO BE USED AS THE RINK MANAGER’S OFFICE: Julie and Marc asked the Fair Board for permission to construct a 12’ X 20’ building very similar to the one now being used as a skate rental facility. It would be built on skids and would be placed on the north side of the paved walk-way next to the skate rental building. They would also like permission to move the little log building and use it for the referee room. That building would also be placed on the north side of the walk-way right next to the Haynes Pavilion. When asked about utilities, Julie and Marc stated there would be underground electricity run to the building. After discussing all the issues, Dennis moved to approve
the construction of the portable building, with the approval of a one year lease. Linda seconded this motion and it passed unanimously. Sue was instructed to get Chris Gray’s thoughts on a lease and the pricing committee will need to determine rental rate for the land on which that building would sit since it will be occupied year round. BAHA, of course would be responsible to pay all operating costs of the building. There was mention of donating the building as payment of rent, but no decision was made on that issue. Having this building will mean that the trailer that is now parked parallel to the Haynes along the northwest corner will be taken out of the Fairgrounds, however, it will be replaced by the Ice Dogs’ trailer. This trailer was removed just prior to the Fair and is being resided and cleaned up before being brought back onto the Fairgrounds.
4. AGR FRATERNITY’S REQUEST TO CHANGE RENTAL RATE FOR 2008 TESTY FEST: The AGR House came to a previous Fair Board with a request to not increase the rental rate for this year’s Testy Fest. The Board voted to leave the rate as set and not revert to last year’s rate. Since that time, AGR representatives have approached Bob Brekke about possibly increasing the rent in steps – a little this year, a little next year and a little the next year until it gets to the price being charged. Bob presented this idea to the Board. Chuck moved to leave the fee as it is now and not change it. Dennis seconded the motion and it carried unanimously. Bob will be talking with the AGR rep. and will let him know of the Board’s decision.
5. NEXT FAIR BOARD MEETING: Sue asked the Board if they would like to have a pot luck or a bar-b-q for the next Fair Board meeting. They decided to meet at the Fairgrounds Office and everyone is to bring something to share. There were only a couple of Board members that could be at the regularly scheduled meeting for the third Tuesday in August so the meeting was changed to August 26th.
ADJOURNMENT –Meeting was adjourned at 7:38pm
Respectfully submitted.
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