Back at the corral, not everything is peaceful. Representatives of the Jefferson County Rodeo Association asked the county commission June 25 to intervene in a fee debate with the county fair board.
At issue is a discussion of who is permitted to use the fair and rodeo grounds without paying a rental fee. Rodeo secretary Melody Grant and treasurer Cassidy Parsons said their members are not happy about a letter they received from the fair board. The letter indicated the board had discussed fees and tried to come up with a coherent policy for use of the grounds.
Marilyn McCauley, fair board member who is also active with the rodeo association, said a problem had arisen because increasing numbers of folks were coming into the county clerk and recorder’s office to reserve the grounds and saying they were exempt from the fees because of rodeo association ties.
County officials needed a clear policy to follow, said McCauley. She said the fair board and rodeo representatives had discussed the issue last summer. “I thought this was all ironed out last year,” she said. She said she had not been able to lay hands on fair board minutes from that previous discussion but was pursuing that.
Grant and Parsons, however, made it clear they did not think everything was ironed out. The letter from the fair board led them to believe that they would have limited use of the grounds without paying fees. The rodeo association should never have to pay the fees, they said. In a response letter from the rodeo association read aloud at the commission meeting, the rodeo group said they have 34 years of sweat equity in the facility in several thousand hours of volunteer labor.
Just in the last couple of years, rodeo volunteers saved the county about $50,000 by donating labor and materials to the new concession stand, they said. That $50,000 would cover the fees for 166 events at the grounds, said Parsons.
“We have easily paid in advance,” said Grant. McCauley noted that the fair board has not met since receiving the rodeo response. She said the rodeo representatives ought to come to the August 1 fair board meeting. After that if a disagreement continues, the rodeo should then be allowed to appeal to the commission, she said.
Commissioner Leonard Wortman said he “totally agreed” with the rodeo association that they should not have to pay.
Fellow Commissioner Bob Mullen said it appeared that the fair board is only trying to come up with a consistent policy and should be given a chance to do that. He added that he appreciates what the rodeo club does. Parsons said the rodeo is “totally willing to clarify on our side who needs to pay.”
Grant said there are some rodeo members suggesting they should separate from the fair and have their own county board.
Mullen said, “I don’t choose to be involved in making fair board policy.” The commission took no action on the matter but encouraged further discussion between the rodeo and fair representatives.
