Events returning to Fair & Expo Center at brisk pace

ALBANY — Activity at the Linn County Fair & Expo Center has been brisk over the past year, including the recent 4-H/FFA and county fairs that were “fantastic”, director Kris Barnes told the Board of Commissioners Tuesday morning.

Barnes said the Fair & Expo Center is booked nearly every weekend, resulting in a FY 2022-23 income of $1,068,251, up more than $230,000 from the approved budget. And, he added, personnel costs were almost $300,000 under budget.

Barnes said some events planned or already held in August included the 4-H horse fair, a Guinness World Record fire patch attempt (successful), the Oregon Cowboy Dressage Horse Show, Yokia Market, Mid-Valley Bicycle Tour, Northwest Reptile & Exotic Animal Show, Oregon Charter Academy, Albany Art & Air Show and a National Specialty Dog Show.

The facility has also been used as an emergency shelter for animals and people affected by wildfires near Harrisburg and east of Sweet Home. Linn County Public Health and the Linn County Sheriff’s Office worked with the American Red Cross to set up cots and food operations.

Barnes said that although this year’s county fair was held during record heat — two days in the 97-degree range — response from the public was outstanding. He said staff added 350 seats behind reserved seating for the Main Stage acts Clint Black, Smash Mouth and Granger Smith, and all were sold out.

He said that although paid admissions were down 7% due to the heat (27,327 compared to last year’s 29,408) gate income was up 10% ($83,445 compared to $73,047) because of a price hike from $7 to $9 on-line or $10 at the gate.

Barnes said vendors experienced record revenue at both the food court and beer garden. Scott Schuler was contracted by the Fair Board to solicit sponsors and he brought $148,000, far above last year’s tally.

Barnes said the 4-H and FFA fair had outstanding participation — more than 1,000 total animals — and the annual auction brought in more than $1.4 million.

Commissioner Sherrie Sprenger said this was her third fair as a commissioner and she never had a single complaint forwarded to her this year.

Board Chairman Roger Nyquist, who also sits on the Fair Board, said the fair continues to grow and it may be time to took a hard look at added permanent structures, for example, a wood and metal sponsors’ pavilion, rather than pay to rent a large tent every year.

There may also be a need to reconfigure the Main Stage venue to add permanent seating.

In other business, the commissioners:

• After considerable discussion, approved an Intergovernmental Agreement with the Oregon Department of Corrections to provide housing at the Linn County Jail at a rate of $103 per day for up to 20 beds, down from 34 beds. Sheriff Michell Duncan said an issue is that since the passage of Ballot Measure 110 — which downgraded possession of smaller amounts of drugs such as heroin and methamphetamines from felonies to misdemeanors — there are fewer correction clients. The commissioners were concerned because they see the criminal acts of those addicted continue to occur, yet the addicts are not getting treatment since they are not being sentenced to jail time.
• Were informed by Dr. Adam Brady that there were 30 reported animal bites in July (the majority in Albany). There were 53 births (27 females, 26 males) and 103 deaths, including two suicides.
• Approved several actions for the Health Department: to provide unpaid internships within the Masters of Social Work program for students at George Fox University and the University of Montana; accepted $202,2353 grant from the Oregon Health Authority for the county’s Alcohol and Drug Prevention and Education Program; adds $31,575 from the OHA to the county’s Parent Child Interaction Therapy program and extends the termination date to Dec. 31, 2023; increases reimbursement from OHA to Linn County for transportation of persons in the Developmental Disability program from $15.12 to $23.18 per ride; accepted $163,353 from the Oregon Health Authority for the county’s Choice Model Services program and extended the termination date to Dec. 31, 2023.
• Approved an Intergovernmental Agreement between the Oregon Youth Authority and Linn County Juvenile Department for $661,376 as part of the Linn County Juvenile Department Crime Prevention Plan. The money helps pay for a portion of the Crime Victim Assistant position, psychological evaluations to help plan a course of action for each young person. Funds also help provide school clothes, classes, sports and club fees and other pro-social activities. Money also help fund a probation officer position.
• Accepted $24,050 from the Oregon Youth Authority to help pay for treatment of youth with sexually problematic behaviors.
• Approved increasing the Health Administration Budget by $175,000 and the Public Health budget by $45,850 for computer hardware upgrades; approved purchasing new computers at a total cost of $241,150 for Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Environmental Health staff; approved moving $37,000 from contingency to materials and services for upgrades at the Linn County Jail.
• Discussed the possibility of video streaming board meetings in place of the current telephone call-in system. Commissioner Sprenger has worked with former IT Director Steve Braaten and current interim director Karen Guilford to research possible systems and costs. The commissioners agreed to discuss the pros and cons of live streaming with department heads and elected officials and to put project discussion on the agenda in two weeks.
• Directed the county’s lead planner Alyssa Boles to make certain Linn County “has a place at the table” as the Oregon Department of Energy’s Energy Siting Council holds meetings and public information sessions concerning the possible development of a solar energy park on 1,500 acres about eight miles south of Brownsville and east of Harrisburg. Commissioner Nyquist noted that he submitted a letter concerning the project in which he objected to the facility being developed on land zoned Exclusive Farm Use. He also noted that under Oregon statutes, property owners who rent their lands to the developer, Qcells, may be responsible to pay up to 10 years in past property taxes.

Media contact: Alex Paul, Linn County Communications Officer, 541-967-3825 or email apaul@co.linn.or.us.