Fairboard violations discussed at county meeting
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ALPENA -- Alpena County Fairgrounds Manager Holly Akins told the Alpena County Facilities committee that she wishes the fairgrounds would be returned to the county in the same condition as it was when the county hands the property over to the Alpena County Fairboard during fair time.
She noted several concerns that she says could jeopardize the county's ability to maintain its licensing from the state.
"The scary thing to me is there's a couple of things on here that could actually cost us our camping license, and then what good is the fairgrounds when nobody can camp there?" Akins said.
Akins said that there were some "pretty big hiccups this year" though "we had a pretty smooth year last year."
"This year was a little rough," she added.
On Wednesday, Akins said that proper documentation for activities on the fairgrounds property was not turned in timely. The 4H food booth was selling food before documentation was provided and Akins never received MDARD food licenses for the fair.
"We never received a copy of the MDARD food licenses," she stated. "We were told we were going to get an email and we never got an email."
Akins added that there is still fair equipment left on the property that needs to be removed so that fairgrounds management can begin its storage season. She said that the arena is still not back in its original condition.
"We're still waiting for the area to be flattened out and returned to its original state," she said. "We still have some cages and bleachers over there. We're trying to do storage starting in two weeks."
"All I ask is it be left how you found it," she added. "I don't expect anybody to do anything extra or plant flowers or anything. I just want it left how we give it to them. We're respectful enough to give it to them in good condition."
Alpena Fairboard President Courtney Taurianen said she was surprised that the fairboard was not contacted about the claims of the fairgrounds being in poor condition after the fair. She said it would have been nice to be made aware of the alleged issues, before it went to the county committee.
"It is increasingly frustrating that we continually have to defend ourselves instead of hosting a community event," she said. "It is frustrating that it wasn't brought to the fairboard and instead was brought right to the commissioners."
Akins explained that nine rodeo families camped inside the arena from Aug. 19 to 20 outside of temporary camping.
"There was the horse trailers and they had campers in here, they were outside the temporary camping space," Akins said. "All camping in an individual space which could get us in a lot of trouble if somebody were to come out and see people camping without a permit."
"It would be nice to not be so worried all week, I guess, about getting in trouble or having somebody come out and blame the county for things," she added.
She added that some campers and vendors hooked up to county buildings for electricity and used hoses to connect to buildings for water.
"We were told, 'Oh, well the contract says and they're not allowed to use the buildings but it doesn't say anything about using the outside of buildings...' that was their response," Akins said. "We actually had people that were camping with us, just took water hoses and plugged up to the MSU building, so they'd have water on their sites."
There was also an issue of people parking on temporary campsites and a lack of traffic control, according to Akins. She added that members of the fairboard also used heavy equipment on Aug. 21 until 3 a.m. the next day to prepare the arena for the bump-n-run, while "quiet time" for the city is 10 p.m. per ordinance.
Akins explained that carnival workers also stayed behind after the fair concluded and rides were left on the grounds until Aug. 30, 10 p.m. A fee for leaving equipment behind past fair time was issued to the fairboard for $340.
According to Akins, the bathrooms and Merchant's buildings continue to be yearly issues. She said that those facilities were not cleaned and returned to their original state.
Alpena County Commissioner Todd Britton asked how the county should address these concerns and Chairman John Kozlowski said that he has a meeting with the fairboard on Thursday and at that time he could address Akins' concerns.
Alpena County Commissioner Brenda Fournier commented, claiming the fairboard has a history of not cooperating.
"It seems like they don't listen to anything we have to say," Fournier said. "And if we do say something, we're getting chastised on Facebook, especially me."
"I'm there with you this time," Akins responded.
Nick Akins, facilities manager, said that the county and the fairboard have to redesign their contract to use the property so that it is more “realistic” for the fairboard to follow and for the fairgrounds management to uphold.
"The fair cannot operate with that contract," Akins said.
He noted a recent meeting with Taurianen about the contract in which he said Taruianen accused Akins of "bullying."
"I was a little bit upset," Akins said. "I told her we were coming, and I told her who was coming, and I told her why they were coming. We've got to get a better contract, because if we're in charge of upholding that contract to the fairboard, then it needs to be realistic."
He also noted issues with carnival rides obstructing animal control operations.
"When the fair comes, they take over everything," Akins added. "They literally had rides into the caution tape for animal control. That's got to be planned better. There was no way for officers coming in for animal control, they were having to come in on the side. It was just unorganized."
Kayla Wikaryasz can be reached at 989-358-5688 or kwikaryasz@TheAlpenaNews.com.