Alaska State Fair Board

Alaska State Fair Board of Directors

Raven Hall on the Fairgrounds

February 8, 2007

President Debby Retherford called the meeting to order at 10:09 pm.  Present: directors Mari Jo Parks, Bonnie Quill, Charlie Willis, Bruce Bush, John Harkey, and newly elected Peter Probasco; members Larry Longenecker, Cheryl Harkey, Vision Money, Jerry Baker and Mary Ann Probasco; general manager Joe Lawton and recorder Donna Tate. 

Parks/Harkey/MCU: To accept the minutes and the consent agenda, adding under Action Items: Discuss general manager candidate interviews.

Retherford gave the financial report, which showed total assets of $707,998.24, total current liabilities of $19,203.27, long-term liabilities of $615,780.65, and total equity of $4,007,094.57, as of January 31, 2007.  Included in the assets was $585,517.05 in the general checking account and $10,069.43 in cds.  Retherford noted the increase in the salary line, largely a result of the buyout of long-time employees' accumulated vacation.

Quill/Parks/MCU:  To approve the financial report for January 31, 2007.

General Manager's Update

Lawton noted the Palmer Planning and Zoning Commission last night denied some aspects of the Fair's request for a conditional use permit.  He proposed that the topic of the Fair's agriculture future be on the March agenda.

Discussion ensued concerning the Fair's conditional use permit request.

Bush/Harkey/MCU: To direct the manager to appeal the Planning and Zoning Commission's decision to the proper authority.

Action Items

Officer Elections

President Retherford opened nominations for officers.

Bush nominated John Harkey for president.

Probasco nominated Mari Jo Parks for president.

The candidates commented on their qualifications before a written ballot was taken.  Harkey was elected.

Quill accepted the request that she retain the position of vice-president.

Parks nominated Bush for treasurer.  As the only nomination, Bush accepted the position.

Parks nominated Willis for secretary.  As the only nomination, Willis accepted the position.

Bush/Harkey/MCU: To adopt the resolution to terminate the lease with the Matanuska-Susitna Borough dated 11 January 1993 concerning the Don Sheldon Building, and accept the transfer of title to the Alaska State Fair.

The Board agreed to schedule interviews with select general manager candidates at 1:00 pm on February 19, 2007.  An additional application and resume' were distributed to the directors to decide if they wish to include those applicants in the interview schedule.  Each director is to provide an opinion to Parks.

Member Comments

Cheryl Harkey congratulated the new board officers.  She found the annual meeting interesting and profitable.

Board Comments

Quill expressed her appreciation to Retherford for her many hours of work the past year while president.  Retherford requested the directors advise the manager to write a thank you letter to attorney Steve Mahoney and parliamentarian Michelle McGehee for dedicating their time to the annual meeting.  Parks congratulated Harkey on his new position as board president and welcomed Probasco to the board of directors.  Bush pledged to do his best as treasurer and congratulated the new board president.  Harkey congratulated Probasco and Willis and thanked Retherford for her time served as president.  He feels that waiting until a quorum was established before presenting the ballot box made for the largest annual meeting turnout he can remember.   He praised the hard work of the board in revising bylaws that the membership approved at their first chance.

Parks/Quill/MCU: To adjourn.

The meeting adjourned at 10:40 pm