By Beth Sherard-Hutcheson times1@iw.net
With the Union County fair being held last week Aug. 3-6, the Union County Commissioners were eager to hear how the week’s events went. Union County Fair Manager Shawn Tabke updated the commissioners at their meeting Aug. 9.
He said the Bulls and Barrels brought in around $4,250.
“We have to take a hard look at what we’re going to do with that next year, because the bull thing cost $10,700 to put on,” Tabke said. “Now we got some donations that were specifically for the rodeo, one was $1,000 from Thunder Valley.”
Even with a couple more donations toward Bulls and Barrels, and raising the gate fee from $10 to $15 the event still lost the fair money. Tabke said the fairboard needs to look at it and decide whether they’re going to run it out three to five years to see if it becomes profitable before they stop or change up and try to do something different.
Union County Chairman Milton Ustad said people that talked to him said the Bulls and Barrels was a lot better this year than it was last year.
When it came to the Tractor Pull, they came in with $5,700 from the gate. Tabke said this was the best run tractor pull he had ever seen. He was impressed how smoothly it went.
He also asked the commissioners how they felt about selling beer during the fair. He asked because they should either allow alcohol or not; if they’re not going to allow it, then they need to not allow the coolers. The commissioners and the fairboard will continue to discuss and determine what action should be taken.
The community supper brought in $1,033 in free will donations.
There were 500 vendors that signed up for this year.
Tabke praised the help of Union County Emergency Manager Jason Westcott for everything he did during the fair. Westcott went and helped push everyone that didn’t have a wristband during events back to the gate to pay or led them out of the event. Westcott even helped with other minor mishaps throughout the fair, such as some adolescents pouring dish soap down the waterslides.
Tabke also said that he couldn’t have done this without the help of Brigita Rasmussen and Sadie Jensen. Union County Highway Superintendent Jerry Buum presented a right-of-way permit on CR11 for Lewis & Clark Water to close the road for two to three hours for a ribbon cutting ceremony on Aug. 10 at 10 a.m. The board approved the permit.
The board approved the petition from Seth Rubida to close a minimum maintenance road in Richland Township.
Union County Planning and Zoning Director Dennis Henze presented the board with a preliminary plat of the 33rd addition (Winged Foot) in Dakota Dunes. The board approved the plat.
The board also approved the minutes of the last meeting, the claims, new hire Collin Baumann as part-time jailer effective Aug. 1 at $16.62 per hour, the resignation of deputy Christopher Halm effective Aug. 31 and a combined election agreement with North Sioux City.
The next meeting was scheduled for Aug. 23 at 8:30 a.m.
