Results Of State Audit Of County Fair Are Positive

By Linda Kor
   The results of an audit of the 2009 Navajo County Fair provided by the Governor’s Advisory Committee were positive, reported Fair Board President Rusty DeSpain at the Nov. 11 fair board meeting.
   “Generally, everything was noted by the auditor as ‘very good,’” stated DeSpain. “Under helpful recommendations, there were none. It was also noted that there were no serious issues, and that the overall appearance was neat and clean despite a rainfall the night before the fair opened,” DeSpain added.
   DeSpain advised the board that the audit was the best they’ve received, thanks to the upgrades to the facility since the previous audit, including paving the midway, the addition of the pig barn, improvements to the grandstands and more. “As a matter of fact, it was so good it would give me a concern for next year’s funding from the state if it weren’t for the fact that this is such a major event for our area,” stated DeSpain. This is the first audit the fair has undergone in three years.
   In a related discussion, DeSpain told the board that working to make the fairgrounds a facility utilized year round should be a priority for the board now that the facilities are in such good shape.
   “I would like us to bring more to the fairgrounds, as well as this community, and as such would like to see about having the NPC (Northland Pioneer College) Rodeo here next year,” stated DeSpain.
   He went on to explain that the rodeo, which has been held at the Taylor Rodeo Grounds for the past five years, is not a huge event, but it is all new money.
   “That rodeo brings in 10 teams from other schools across the state and New Mexico. They stay overnight and they’d spend their money in this community,” explained DeSpain, who further noted that holding the event at the fairgrounds would allow people who would normally not come to Holbrook to see what a fine facility the fairgrounds is for future events.
   “I asked John Doyle (coach of the NPC Rodeo Club) what it would take to get the rodeo here, and what it comes down to is that they would use the facility free of charge, they would charge admission and we would have concessions,” explained DeSpain. He added that he will be going before the Holbrook City Council Nov. 24 meeting to ask for the city’s support.
   “The city council has asked us to provide bigger events at this facility, and rodeos bring in a considerable amount of people,” DeSpain said, adding that in order to make the agreement, some funding would be asked for from the city that would go directly to the rodeo club in order for the students to be able to put on the rodeo. “These kids will put heart and soul into this event. If it goes well, then next year we can talk about taking a percentage of the profits.”
   Board member Wendell DeCross expressed concern over the prospect of the Navajo County Fair Board taking an event from one city within the county and trying to bring it to another.
   “I don’t think Taylor will be concerned if these kids come here as long as they get to ride,” commented board member Jim Crosby, with other board members nodding in agreement.
   In the past, the Town of Taylor has provided the rodeo grounds free of charge for the event, but the rodeo club needed to provide their own funds through its booster club to conduct the rodeo.
   The motion to support the proposal to hold the NPC Rodeo at the fairgrounds was unanimously approved.
   In other business, the board assigned a committee to review different avenues of upgrading current equipment used at the fairgrounds.
   “Since we did not receive the governor’s funding until the fair began, we did not do any further upgrades to the grounds last year. As a result, we do have some funds available that I feel should go toward adding to or improving some of our existing equipment,” explained DeSpain. Currently, the organization has one tractor, one backhoe and one water truck, none of which have been replaced for many years.
   “These are all 70’s models, and with the economy as it is, I think we can get a reasonable price on some used equipment as part of our five-year plan that we’re drafting,” stated DeSpain.
   Board member Don Fischer suggested looking into state surplus to see what it has to offer. “They collect equipment from all over the state, even from military bases, and you get them for pennies on the dollar,” stated Fischer.
   A committee was assigned to review the matter and come back to the board with suggestions.
   In a separate discussion, the board determined that a policy is needed to determine when it is acceptable for board members to collect lost wages when they are needed to work during the fair. It was explained by DeSpain that although the position of being on the board is a volunteer, board members who lose wages in order to work during the fair are generally compensated if they have no vacation time left from their full-time job due to unexpected situations.
   “Every board member is eligible for this on an individual basis, but I agree that a policy needs to be in place,” DeSpain said.
   Staff members were asked to create that policy, and will come back before the board at the December meeting with a proposal.
   In other action Nov. 11, the board:
   * Approved a facilities request made by the Holbrook Policed Department to hold its Christmas party on Wednesday, Dec. 16, at the fairgrounds.
* Approved expenditures
totaling $7,084.67.