Joint meeting set to discuss future of Palouse Empire fair

Whitman County Commissioners have scheduled a joint meeting with the Palouse Empire Fair board for next Monday, Oct. 2, at 6 p.m. to discuss possible organizational changes with the fair board. The workshop session was called to determine a direction for fair organization in the wake of the retirement of Bob Reynolds as fair manager. Reynolds, who has served as fair manager since 2000, officially resigned during an executive session at the end of the Aug. 28 fair board meeting.

During the fair’s Sept. 7 opening ceremony, Reynolds was recognized as heading his last edition of the four-day fair.

He had been considering retirement for the past couple of years. Before he was named fair manager, Reynolds worked on five fairs under previous manager Debbie Wells.

Two other members of the fair staff, Melissa Leinweber and Angela Wick, have also subsequently resigned from the fair staff. Wick worked part-time for the fair, and Reynolds and Leinweber had job assignments which included the county ‘s facilities maintenance department.

The three departures will leave the fair essentially without a staff by the middle of next month.

The county has proposed organizational changes for the fair department and that will be the topic of the Oct. 2 session with the fair board at 6 p.m.

Sid Mays of LaCrosse, long time president of the fair board, said Tuesday he anticipated some type of consolidation in management for the fair operation. He noted the county for the past several years has been under a budget bind and that can lead to consolidation of assignments.

The fair board’s Monday meeting this week, was cancelled.

Leinweber’s resignation will be effective Oct. 12, and Wick’s resignation will be effective Oct. 3. Leinweber told the Gazette Wednesday she decided to resign because she didn't see much of a career future in what she understands to be the proposals for the fair office. She said she could see herself in the position of having to train somebody who would be her supervisior.

Leinweber, who has worked for the fair for seven years, said the plans she believes to be on the table show a real lack of understanding of the extensive and detailed work which goes into producing the fair each year.

She is now working part-time in the office and using up vacation time.

Reynolds said his retirement has been on the agenda for the past couple of years. He said he very much enjoyed the years and the people who work each year to produce the fair.

“They are all fantastic people,” Reynolds commented.

Commissioner Art Swannack Monday declined to comment on the reasons given for the two resignations and said he would let the two fair staff members speak for themselves. County commissioners have appointed Bill Tensfeld, county emergency services director, temporary manager of the fair.

Fair department supervisors have been notified of the Oct. 2 meeting which has been described as a workshop session which is open to the public.