Youth building contract addressed

Alexis Barker
NLJ News Editor
 
Despite some opposition, the Weston County Commission agreed to support a proposed agreement between the Weston County Sheriff’s Office/Weston County Search and Rescue and the Weston County Fair Board for use of the youth building at the fairgrounds. 
On Jan. 19, Linda Hunt and Nancy Darnell, both members of the Friends of the Fair organization, asked the commissioners about the agreement after hearing of it during a fair board meeting. The agreement would give use of the youth building to Weston County Search and Rescue in return for the group’s completion of roughly $100,000 in repairs and upgrades over 15 years, according to fair board member Justin Mills. 
“It doesn’t seem like practical use of the building to me,” Hunt said, who noted that she did not think the proposal constituted an intended use of the fairgrounds.
Darnell expressed concern about the 15-year time frame.
“That is a long time. I am horrified by that,” Darnell said. 
Both women also said they were dissatisfied with the way they were treated by the presenter from the search and rescue group during the fair board meeting. 
“She made it sound like I was responsible for deaths if I opposed,” Darnell said, adding that she also found issue with the search and rescue group wanting to “get their money back” as the reason for the 15-year time frame. 
“When I give something to the fairgrounds, I don’t expect to get my money back,” Darnell said. 
Both women also said they were concerned about the board’s ability to request that the group vacate the building if it was needed for various reasons. 
According to Mills, the building is not being used for anything but storage and is in very poor condition. He explained that the 15 years would allow enough time to complete the work defined in an addendum to the contract to be completed. 
“We will be revisiting in five years to see what work has been done,” Mills said. “There is a check and balance there.”  
“The addendum is the teeth. It is best for both of us in the situation. We don’t have to put money into the building … money we don’t have to fix it, and they have a building to use,” Mills continued. 
County Attorney Alex Berger addressed a concern about a potential issue with the building use, stating that, with the addendum, the board would have the ability to break the contract. 
“This is essentially the county entering a contract with itself. These are two county entities coming together to reallocate county space,” Berger said. “They are absolutely free to do it or determine that it is a bad idea. That is their decision. They are an appointed board.”
“I am scared it (the agreement) will open Pandora’s box. … I wonder why they didn’t ask the Friends of the Fair to come up with the money and help write grants,” Hunt said. “It is just such a surprise that there is no issue with the commissioners or fair board.” 
Commissioner Nathan Todd said that with the building being almost unusable, the fair board needed to find the funds to fix it. 
“Hopefully, this will all come together and we all have a win out of it,” Todd said. 
“I agree,” Darnell said. “I just felt that I had been hit by a bat. It was so cut and dry … 15-year agreement because they wanted their money back. It didn’t seem right.” 
“I like that you offered insight. I am glad you guys came in,” Todd said. “We need the community to ask questions more.”