Alaska State Fair Board

Alaska State Fair Board of Directors

Raven Hall on the Fairgrounds

March 8, 2007

 

President John Harkey called the meeting to order at 7:04 pm.  Present: directors Mari Jo Parks, Charlie Willis, Bruce Bush, Peter Probasco; members Larry Longenecker, Jerry Baker, and Pam Meekin; general manager Joe Lawton and recorder Donna Tate.  Bonnie Quill arrived at 7:40 pm.  Debby Retherford was absent.

 

Parks/Probasco/MCU: To accept the minutes as presented.

Probasco/Willis/MCU: To accept the consent agenda as presented.

 

Bush gave the financial report, which showed total assets of $4,598,275.82, total current liabilities of $22,358.04, long-term liabilities of $615,780.65, and total equity of $4,598,275.82, as of February 28, 2007.  Included in the assets was $470,706.62 in the general checking account and $10,073.55 in cds.  Bush distributed the Fair's real property assessment detail sheets from the Matanuska-Susitna Borough.  He feels that most property values on the report are below present market value.  He noted that expenses for the current year are considerably higher than previous year.  He proposed that assessed land values be a regular part of the financial statement.

 

Parks/Willis/MCU:  To approve the financial report for February 28, 2007.

 

General Manager's Update

 

Lawton also noted that the Borough assessed the Fair property below market value.  The newly approved bylaws are now on our website.  He reported a visit from Randy Hobbs to discuss siting a coal-fired electrical generation plant on the fairgrounds.  The staff is reviewing the possibility of applying for a $10,000 grant to assist with the Statehood celebration during 2008 or 2009 Fair.  Grant application deadline is April 1 so decision will be made by next week.  Lawton and the staff will work out details on membership levels recommended by marketing.

 

Ad Hoc Committee Report

 

Bonnie Quill reported the committee agreed to meet annually to assist Meekin with any vendor issues.  Current members want two more people to serve on the ad hoc committee.

 

Annual Membership Meeting Recap

 

Harkey found benefits in holding the ballot box until after a quorum was established at the annual membership meeting.  This year was the largest membership attendance he remembered, and there was good support for adopting the new bylaws.  He suggested that a parliamentarian regularly be present.

 

Conditional Use Permit Appeal Report

 

Lawton worked with attorney Andy Robinson to file the appeal for the conditional land use permit.  The new City Attorney Michael Gatti is to discuss appeal procedures with Robinson.  Lawton will inform the board of the timeline for public input.

 

Action Items

 

Committee Appointments:

Harkey formed committees as follows:

Rules: Harkey (chair), Parks, Quill, and an ASF member to be determined.  Election: Willis (chair), Bush, Probasco, Meekins, and an ASF member to be determined.

Finance: Retherford (chair), Bush, Quill, Mason, and the Fair manager.

 

Probasco/Parks/MCU: To adopt the Resolution that board meetings continue on the second Thursday each month except September, when they are scheduled later due to the Fair ending date.

 

Parks/ Quill/Withdrawn: To accept the board travel policy as presented.  Discussion followed concerning reimbursement for ground travel to/from airport.  Remedy is postponed until the April meeting.

 

Land Use Permit to Local Farmer: This item will be considered at the Board Retreat.

 

Fowler Gas Proposal:  Lawton was requested to invite Bob Fowler to present the board a twenty minute overview of the gas proposal.

 

Retreat:  The board retreat will be April 26-27 or April 27-28, at an off-site location.

 

Palmer Arts Center:  Lawton spoke with Miriam Pippel concerning the Palmer Arts Council locating on the fairgrounds.  This is a retreat discussion item, too.

 

The meeting recessed at 8:40 pm.  The meeting returned to session at 8:52 pm.

 

Parks/Probasco/MCU:  To add General Manger selection to the agenda.

 

Parks/Bush/MCU:  To hire Ray Ritari as the new General Manager of the Alaska State Fair.

 

Parks/Quill/MCU:  To authorize President John Harkey to negotiate with Mr. Ritari a one year contract not to exceed $70,000 annually, with a definite starting date.  His employment will begin April 2.  There will be a 2pm staff meeting with the staff Friday to announce his appointment.

 

Member Comments

 

Meekin is excited that a new manager has been chosen and is anxious to meet him.

 

Board Comments

 

Quill leaves Saturday for a vacation in Palm Springs and travels to Juneau in April to seek funding for the Alaska Travel Industry Association.  Willis feels the board has chosen a general manager with good experience.  Probasco was impressed with the interview process the board used to hire the manager.  Parks announced the retirement party for Lawton and thanked the staff for their help in organizing it.  Bush said the board followed Lawton's advice and hired the most experienced candidate.  He said the new manager plans no immediate radical changes.  Harkey thanked staff for being patient during the long process of general manager selection.  He received positive reports from Ritari's previous fellow-workers.  He reminded the board of the upcoming Foraker seminar.

 

Probasco/Willis/MCU: To adjourn.

 

The meeting adjourned at 9:06 pm