The first post-fair meeting of the Rock Creek and Boundary Fair Association heard some good news: income for the 2014 weekend was up and expenses were down compared to 2013.
Treasurer Lisa Sims reported that food vendors were especially pleased. There were only 22 vendors this year (there were 29 in 2013). Since they grossed $133,981 it meant a bigger pot went to fewer people.
Attendance was up too, according to the wrist band/day pass count. In 2013 there was 8,773 given out, and in 2014 there was 9,519. Sims said that Saturday was busier this year than last, but Sunday was not.
Plans for a new gatehouse were also proposed, with four lanes in, and two offices up stairs. Members of the Lions Club are willing to volunteer their time to erect the building. Four copies of plans were donated by Harmony Homes. The project was referred to the next budget meeting.
Freeman’s Country Store donated a rack for fence panels and the association has purchased 15 new Hi-Hog panels.
Louise Fossen will not be taking over the pavilion manager position next year. Jill Kellerman is willing to take some of the load, but she does not want to take on all the responsibilities herself. The association is still looking for someone else to help with the position.
The nominating committee was established for the annual general meeting to be held on Jan. 21, 2015. Pierre Sinclaire will chair; Lincoln Blaine, Ilana Fraser and Sharon Funnel will assist.
James Delisle approached the members with details of an offer of in-kind donation to the association by Emcon. The company supports the communities in which it operates by assisting with projects (the Louisa Street bridge in Greenwood was put in through the program).
Delisle suggested the offer could be used to provide dust control; however, since it is tricky to keep the water trucks going all fair weekend because of the amount of traffic, he suggested having the area sprayed with dust control suppressant a couple of weeks prior to the fair.
It was agreed that the Emcon offer was too good to pass up, but that drainage was a bigger issue than dust control. It was proposed that a drainage line be dug, and filled with drainage rock. “I think we’re on to something here, Jamie,” fair president Lincoln Blaine remarked, “because we already discussed drainage and were trying to figure out what we were going to do, so if we could get some help in that regard, I think that will be more beneficial to us.”
Delisle will contact Emcon and get back to the board at a later meeting. The next meeting of the fair association will be Wednesday, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m.