Published: June 22, 2009 10:02 pm      

Councilman brings up concerns about fairgrounds

Scott Friend worried about board spending too much tax money on aesthetics

TIPTON – The competency of the Tipton County Fairgrounds board was brought into question at Monday’s Tipton County Board of Commissioners meeting.

Jim Woolf, Tipton County extension educator, and contractor Trevor Scoles approached the board on behalf of the fairgrounds to relay some issues with a repair job.

Scoles said a leak on the roof of the office building has caused a soft spot. The roofing is part of a $77,000 repair project for the entire fairgrounds.

Woolf and Scoles told the commissioners they were wanting advice, not money.

After they finished speaking to the commissioners, Tipton County Councilman Scott Friend addressed the board with concerns he had about how the fairgrounds board was spending tax money.

“It is my opinion that [the fairgrounds board’s] ability to manage these facilities is less than adequate,” Friend told the commissioners.

The councilman passed out a seven-page letter he sent in November to the then-commissioners, current commissioners and county council.

The letter highlights fairgrounds funding since 1995, which totals to $818,000.

Friend wrote the fairgrounds board is spending the money on unneeded areas and not focusing on its purpose to “maintain and operate the grounds and buildings ...”

“It appears to me that the Fair Board has lost sight of its primary role of maintenance and has put beautification first,” he wrote.

Friend’s letter also mentions the fairgrounds restrooms do not comply with the American Disabilities Act of 1990.

Friend told the council the Fair Board has been taking the “lion’s share” of taxes, but it has not been doing enough to raise money on its own.

Woolf declined to comment on Friend’s remarks after Monday’s meeting.

After Friend spoke, Ken Ziegler, president of the Board of Commissioners, said the Fair Board has been seeking outside grants, but the commissioners would address some of the concerns.

• Daniel Human is a Kokomo Tribune staff writer. He can be reached at (765) 454-8570 or at daniel.human@kokomotribune.com.