County Fair Board issues clarified

Dear Editor,

I appreciate the opportunity to provide clarification regarding recent discussions about the Red Willow County Fair Board and the use of the fairgrounds. While I respect Mr. Trail’s long history of service and his perspectives, I would like to correct some inaccuracies in his recent column to ensure the public has a clear understanding of the situation.

First, state law limits the number of fair board members who may reside within a municipality. Nebraska statute allows no more than two members from a city to serve on the board, but Red Willow County currently has three. This issue was recently identified, and the county attorney has provided guidance to bring the board into compliance with state law.

Second, Don Klein is not an elected member of the fair board; he is appointed by the Board of Commissioners. Any changes to his position or others on the board follow the county’s established appointment process.

Third, the Board of Commissioners has not removed anyone from the fair board or targeted any person for removal. The fair board itself will first request voluntary resignations as a step toward resolving any concerns.

Fourth, the Fairboard consists of nine members, rather than the five mentioned in the column.

Finally, regarding the presence of livestock at the fairgrounds, the board recognizes that maintaining full-time livestock on the property can raise concerns for nearby residents. Recently, more than 40 roping steers were housed at the fairgrounds, a number that has since been reduced to 26. These cattle are being used by the McCook Community College rodeo team and for roping clinics. The decision to keep them on-site was made to offset transportation costs, which would otherwise fall to the MCC rodeo team and private trainers. This arrangement differs from past practices when livestock were regularly transported off-site.

Our goal remains to ensure that county policies are followed while balancing the needs of all involved parties. I appreciate the opportunity to clarify these matters and encourage open dialogue to address any further concerns.

Sincerely,

Ted Gans, Chairman

Red Willow County Board of Commissioners