Management to be decided
BY MARK J. CRAWFORD
With closure on ownership of the fairgrounds property set for last Friday, Bradford County is moving forward with the formation of the new governing board.
Five of the nine new members of the Bradford Fair Association will be selected by the county. At the commission’s April 1 meeting, County Manager Scott Kornegay suggested the same committee that reviews and ranks bids be appointed to review applications from those interested in serving.
The review committee will consist of Kornegay, executive assistant Amanda Brown, Public Works Director Jason Dodds and Fire Chief Ben Carter. Kornegay also asked to invite someone from the UF/IFAS Bradford Extension Office to join them.
Commissioners Chris Dougherty and Diane Andrews as well as Clerk of Court Denny Thompson asked about including members of the public with existing ties to farming and agriculture on the review committee as well.
“I think it would serve the public, you know, if we had somebody else that was added on to that committee that, instead of it being all county and IFAS as well. Just someone from the public that has an agricultural background and that has also been involved with the fair,” Dougherty said.
They made the distinction between someone willing to serve on the review committee and those who would want to serve on the fair board. Commissioner Kenny Thompson said there would be no shortage of good picks given the number of people who have given their time and effort to the fair over the years.
Kornegay said he also expected a lot of interest in serving on the fair board.
“I anticipate receiving a number of applications, which is a good thing,” he said, adding that applicants would be asked for a resume and a letter of intent stating why they are interested and what they have to offer.
The fair board positions will be advertised, and once the applications are reviewed, recommendations will be brought to the county commission for approval.
Operations
The previous fair association board and county commission have come to an agreement, with the county taking ownership of the fairgrounds property in exchange for paying off more than $1.7 million in construction debt. The county will lease the property to the fair association for the next year. The association will be governed by a nine-member board, with four members selected by the former board and five by the county commission.
Events will continue as scheduled during this transitional year.
Commissioner Andrews asked staff about the commission’s influence in decision making. She specifically asked about restoring the arena for the Bradford Riding Club.
“Will we be able to make that recommendation at all?” she asked.
Attorney Rob Bradley said that while commissioners won’t be involved in the day-to-day operations, when it comes to major decisions about capital improvements and the overall vision for the fairgrounds, the commission would be involved.
“If they [fair board] go astray, or they go to in a direction on those major decisions that’s inconsistent with what a majority of the BCC does, well, that’s kind of why you’re hold the cards in terms of having a majority of the appointees on that board, number one. Number two, that’s why we’re going to revisit this all in a year,” Bradley said.
While the agreement between the fair board and the county commission had been signed, the lease agreement is forthcoming. Clerk Thompson asked about the ability to break the lease if things aren’t run the way the county expects. As property owner, Bradley said the county commission will be the “ultimate arbiter,” but he also cautioned commissioners not to take ownership of every decision made at the expense of robbing people of their service.
“You want that to be meaningful service. You want that to be something where they’re running the day-to-day operations of the matter, right? But you also want to be able to step back and watch how things are going, and if things are going in the wrong direction, to be able to have the ability to move in and make it right. And that’s what you now have,” he said.
Clerk Thompson mentioned revenue sharing with the fair association for costs incurred, such as insurance. Bradley agreed the arrangement should not cost taxpayers. The insurance on the property would ultimately be the county’s responsibility, but revenue generated at the fairgrounds should cover those costs. Thompson felt the property was currently underinsured at $1.4 million.
“I would imagine that to be a two and a half million dollar building to build back right now,” he said.
Future fair and rec management
In a related matter, Commission Chairman Danny Riddick appealed to staff and the board to find more money for recreation, which in addition to park maintenance, could include money for additional infrastructure and an employee designated to manage recreational programming. Some of that programming could take place at the fairgrounds, including the return of Pop Warner football practice.
The county manager told Riddick that the county and Tourist Development Council are in talks to hire a fair manager and folding responsibility for parks and recreation into that new position.
Riddick said he travels to youth sports tournaments in other counties and hailed what they manage to do in terms of fields, events and bringing people to their communities. Bradford has no fields for soccer or flag football, he said. Youth travel out of town to play.
“It would be nice if we could bring soccer, flag football, back to Bradford County. And then we could go and play Keystone and go and play against Union County. It would just give more opportunity for more children to play sports, because somebody from Lawtey isn’t going to drive all the way to Keystone to play soccer. You know, that’s a long way. That’s an extra burden on parents that shouldn’t be there,” he said.
Riddick also had eyes on the seven-plus acres across the road from the fairgrounds. It’s owned by the fair association but is not a part of the land being acquired by the county.
“I would like us to, especially with the budget coming up, look into hiring some sort of rec department person to do the softball, baseball, flag football, soccer. I really believe that’s something we should do for our children of Bradford County. We’ve got a bunch of them out there that like to play sports, and I just hate to see them have to go to another county to play,” he said.
Later during a budget workshop, Dougherty asked to table discussion of parks and recreation, saying the county has a long way to go. Other counties are funded by much larger tourism budgets and have the attractions, including restaurants and hotels, that draw people in for multiday tournaments. Bradford is at a disadvantage even in its soil, which makes engineering fields that don’t turn to mud in the rain expensive to pay for, plus the ongoing maintenance.
“I’m not, again, raining on your parade, but at the same time, I think it’s something that we need to slowly walk into. And because with that budget being just as low as it is right now, you know, where do we come up with the additional funds?” Dougherty asked.
The city of Starke was brought up as a potential partner for recreational services, given it parks and recent improvements.
“So, before we take that leap to do our own thing, let us collaborate together with what’s already out there and seeing what we can do together,” Commissioner Carolyn Spooner said.
Riddick said he would like to work with the city, but also said the Tourist Development Council has $800,000 in the bank, and that could potentially be used to acquire and improve sports fields. He said he hopes to discuss it with representatives on the TDC board later this month.
“That’s one can I don’t want to kick down the road any further. I want to make it happen,” he said.
