County outlines plan to merge fair office headed by Tensfeld

Bill Tensfeld, head of the county’s emergency services department, will also be the lead administrator for the Palouse Empire Fair, according to a plan outlined by the county commissioners in a special work session Monday night.

The commissioners outlined the plan in a special workshop session with fair board members, barn supervisors and other fair supporters present in the commissioner’s room.

Commissioner Art Swannack at the start of the session listed a rundown of the workshop meeting format. He advised attendees to not make any comments about personnel because that would have to be done in an executive session.

Commissioner Mike Largent advised the group that the proposal was “something to talk around” for the balance of the session.

Fair administration has been considered for a new slot in county administration after the retirement of Bob Reynolds and the subsequent resignation of two fair staff members. Reynolds served as administrator since 2000.

Tensfeld last week was appointed interim manager of the fair with Reynolds’ resignation effective at the end of the month. Reynolds notified the fair board at its Aug. 28 meeting that he intended to retire at the end of September after seeing the fair through its 2017 edition.

Two other fair staffers, Melissa Leinweber and Angela Wick, subsequently resigned. Leinweber told the Gazette last week she opted to resign because she didn’t see much chance for a promotion under the proposal that had been explained to her prior to Monday’s session.

The new plan will put the fair, emergency services, parks, facilities and developmental services all in the same office. Janel Goebel, a long-time staffer in the parks office, will be appointed supervisor of the fair.

Dave Mahan, a long-time park ranger, was named last month as superintendent of the county parks department.

In addition to serving as fair manager, Reynolds also headed the county’s facilities office which is charged with upkeep of county buildings.

Swannack asked members of the fair board to comment on the plan.

Board President Sid Mays said he was concerned about where the fair budget would land and was told it would move with the administration.

Board member Eric Appel of Dusty asked Tensfeld what he envisioned for the future of the fair, and Tensfeld said one of the tasks would be to link up personnel for the tasks at hand. Tensfeld noted additional help could be hired to meet the tasks after the gets a better idea of the work loads.

Bill Ryan of Colton noted the fair staffers work extremely hard in the weeks leading up to the fair and he was concerned about how the staff could accommodate that work load under the new arrangement.

Chad Startin, president of the Fair Foundation, pointed out the $500,000 project over the past three years to remodel the Events Center building was the “tip of the iceberg” for facilities work which needs to be done at the fairground.

Startin noted replacing the aging grandstand is another goal of the Fair Foundation with the aim of increasing use of the grounds in the off season. He noted other needs include improving parking and general cleanup.

Largent said the county regarded the fair’s Events Center as a key asset, and he feels one of the future goals will be to leverage assets to help support the fair.

Kay Riebold pointed out a new grandstand would open up the opportunity to bring in big name entertainers in the off season.

Mary Beth Bothman said she felt the fair needed to look down the road with some real infrastructure needs.

Dave Hopkins, former long-time supervisor of the hog barn, said he would like to see an end to the fairground “being used as a junk yard.”

Janet Luft said the Fair Foundation was in the process of preparing for its annual December dinner and auction benefit and asked who they should contact to make arrangements. She was advised to contact Tensfeld.

Commissioner Largent told the group he anticipated a “rough row to hoe” for at least the next year for the fair, but anticipates it will be rebuilt in such a way “to be a better product on the other side.”