News photo by Kayla Wikaryasz Alpena County Fair Board President Courtney Tauriainen is seen giving public comment at Tuesday’s Alpena County Board of Commissioners Finance, Ways, and Means committee meeting.

ALPENA — The Alpena County Board of Commissioners have decided to revisit the Blackwaters NE contract with adjustments based on the Alpena County Fair Board concerns. The county board met for its monthly Finance, Ways, and Means committee meeting and the fairgrounds was a topic of discussion.

By revisiting the contract, the county opens the door for the development project to successfully move forward.

On May 5, the Alpena County Fair Society voted to cease negotiations with Blackwaters NE. Alpena County Fair Board President Courtney Tauriainen gave public comment on Tuesday to address the need for infrastructure improvements despite the society’s decision.

“This vote, however, did not signify the ignorance of repairs needed on the fair grounds,” Tauriainen told commissioners. “It is no secret the amount of passion this community has for our county fair, and the historic legacy it holds. With that being said, we strive for our fair grounds to be something that our town is proud of. The fair society wants to work with you, the county, not against you.”

Tauriainen asked for the opportunity to walk through the property with professionals hired by the county to “assess exactly what needs to be fixed and where the priorities lie.” 


“The fair board and the fair society have proven time and time again we are dedicated to doing everything we can to assist in fixing the fairgrounds,” she added.

County Administrator Jesse Osmer said that the county is within its rights to continue negotiations with Blackwaters NE despite the Alpena County Fair Society’s decision to cease negotiations with the company.

Osmer said that this course of action would not require terminating the 10-year non-exclusive contract with the fairboard. He said if anything, it will give the fair board more control during their fair period.

According to Osmer, the board will consider a proposal within the next two weeks which will combine the county’s previous contract and the compromises offered by the county to Blackwaters.

Below are the concerns that the county intends to address in its re-worked contract with the company.

EXCLUSIVITY

Osmer stated that the new agreement would carve out a 10-day period for exclusive use by the fair board. As a caveat, the 12-day period “on either side of that during setup and breakdown” Blackwaters would have the right to host events with county authorization.

“We’re actually giving something that was previously a 22-day, non-exclusive period, and carving out 10 days for exclusivity,” he added.

POLICY PROCEDURES

According to Osmer, the fair board had expressed concern over their ability to comply with a “rough draft” of policies presented from Blackwaters that the fairboard would have to comply with or breach its contractual obligations.

Osmer explained that the purpose of the rough draft recognizes that the layout and list of events for both the fair board and Blackwaters will vary year to year.

Osmer presented a compromise that would require the fair board to present its layout and list of events nine months prior to the fair. Likewise, Blackwaters would have to propose their policies and procedures 8 months prior to the fair taking place. The county would then step in to overlap the two and produce a list of policies and procedures six months prior to the fair.

“I think this would allow all parties to be able to get their information in and it would make sense of working procedures that are required of all parties, the county acting as mediator,” he said.

BLACKWATER IMPROVEMENTS

Osmer stated that the county will propose a compromise with Blackwaters to suggest a 15 feet radius surrounding the mainstage area that is excluded from fair use.

“We measured 30 meters … it’s ridiculous,” he added. “It’ll be 15 feet. That’s much more reasonable.”

He added that the county will also cover the cost of the technician to operate any AV systems during fair events. The fair board would be responsible to cover costs incurred from damage.

STORAGE

The county will require fair board property to be removed after the 2026 fair, though the “location of these items is still unknown,” according to Osmer.

He stated that the county is considering turning the merchant’s building into wintertime storage “because we’re losing revenue on that building anyway.”

“We’re trying to find ways to improve costs, savings,” he added.

INSURANCE

Osmer said that the county is not offering any compromise for insurance coverage by the fair board.

“Insurance must be carried and covered on any properties utilized by the fair board,” he said.

UNDEFINED FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS

According to Osmer, the fair board was unwilling to agree to security policies and procedures and financial obligations without knowing what those costs will be beforehand.

Osmer explained the offered compromises that the county will do an inspection of the property and will notify the fair board of “any repairs or attention needed to the property as a result of the events that take place during fair week.”

He added that the same requirement will be placed on Blackwaters to remedy damage occurred in preparation for fair time.

Osmer said that failure to comply from either side will result in the county making those repairs and billing to the respective party.

FAIR SOCIETY RIGHTS

The final fair society concern was what rights it retained if the county and Blackwaters were to terminate their agreement, according to Osmer. He stated that the fair society requested to revert back to “declaration rights” if Blackwaters were to terminate its contract with the fair board.

Osmer said that the county will not offer a compromise since the agreement moving forward will be between the county and Blackwaters.

Kayla Wikaryasz can be reached at 989-358-5688 or kwikaryasz@TheAlpenaNews.com.