Fair board approves renovations for fairground bathrooms

The Great Northern Fair Board decided Tuesday at a special meeting to move forward with getting some new bathrooms at the fairgrounds.

The board met with the Great Northern Fair Foundation Tuesday to talk about the replacement of bathrooms for the fairgrounds, scheduled projects to be finished and donations.

Back in January, the Great Northern Fair Board voted to continue with the process of getting bids for the bathrooms, including one from Heberly and Associates. This bid resulted in being higher than what was anticipated, above the funds set for the projects. They instead intend to utilize funds from the general fund, which is meant for improvements, to pay for the bathrooms.

The board said it expects to spend approximately $30,000 to ship and place temporary bathrooms at the fairgrounds, in addition to a few extra thousand dollars for general plumbing repairs. It approved that project Tuesday.

Board member Ken Erickson expressed his urgency to spend the money now on these projects before interest rates continue to climb.

"Ten years ago, $20,000 was worth $20,000. Right now, it's worth $12,000-$15,000. We've lost money," Erickson said, "We have to look at the numbers, because inflation is probably higher than what your interest rate is."

Fair Foundation member Christy Owens discussed raising funds and how the foundation is utilizing those funds to help build new structures for the fairgrounds.

Owens was the main speaker on behalf of the foundation.

"With the fundraising that we've been doing over the last couple years, we've been trying to do some other maintenance," Owens said.

"There's also been new picnic tables and benches," she added. " ... Those have come about in the last five to six years. They're little efforts that we have tried to contribute with what little funds that we have been able to raise."

A new gazebo at the campgrounds is being built by the foundation, and, weather permitting, is expected to be completed within a few weeks. The gazebo will be replacing an old one. The foundation had a pad of concrete poured for the base of the new gazebo in 2022.

Another topic of conversation brought up was additional ways to earn and raise money for these projects, donations being a big one. Board Vice Chair Bob Kaul said he has been approached by some of the public attempting to send in donations.

"Maybe we should use the fairgrounds address," Kaul suggested, "I've got people wanting to donate."

The board agreed that was the best conclusion. Donations can be made out to the Great Northern Fair Foundation and sent to the Great Northern Fair at the Hill County Courthouse, 315 Fourth St., Havre, MT 59051.