Fair board talks to grounds manager in closed session

After an early morning special meeting of the Great Northern Fair Board, fairgrounds Manager Dave Brewer said despite issues raised about his performance during the meeting’s executive session, he will stay in his job.

The meeting, which Fair Board Chair Paul McCann said was called at 6:30 a.m. at the fairgrounds to fit the schedules of the seven board members, was called into executive session minutes after it began.

Brewer said after the meeting that it was not a “resounding we want Dave to stay,” but the meeting allowed he and board members to both raise issues.

“I was more than willing to walk away, but I don’t think that would have solved anything,” he said. “We need to move forward.”

He added that though the outcome was not perfect, it allowed them to communicate  with one another.

McCann said the board does not comment on personnel matters to the public.

Brewer said issues raised included how he communicated to people about paying to use fairground facilities and his working relationship with Hill County Treasurer Sandy Brown.

Though the fairground exists  for people to use, the fairgrounds needs are 10 times greater than the $5,600 the county provides each year, and people have to pay to use the facility, Brewer said.

The next regular meeting of the Great Northern Fair board will take place Tuesday, Sept. 19, at 5:30 p.m. at the fairgrounds Community Center.