Alaska State Fair BoardMinutes
President John Harkey called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. Present: directors Mari Jo Parks, Debby Retherford, Bruce Bush, and Bonnie Quill, Pete Probasco, and Charlie Willis; members Kirsten Mason, Pam Meekin, and Larry Longenecker, Jerry Baker, Dean Phipps, and Amanda Henry; general manager Ray Ritari and Donna Tate, recorder. Parks/Probasco/MCU: To accept the consent agenda as amended. The agenda was amended to include (1) set date of employee appreciation breakfast, (2) set date for the staff/director workshop, and (3) set date for the director’s retreat. Parks/Quill/MCU: To accept the minutes after making some grammatical cor-rections. Accounting Manager Kirsten Mason gave the financial report, which showed total assets of $5,824,485.11 total current liabilities of $96,090.38, long-term liabilities of $525,371.33, and total equity of $5,203,023.40 as of September 30, 2007. Included in the assets was $1,489,698.22 in the general checking account. Mason also reported totals for the monthly and year-to-date total income, total expenses, and net income. General Manager’s Update Ritari reported the Fair was a successful event. Increases in attendance, revenue, and exhibit entries were seen and the expenses were reduced from the previous year. Energy negotiations with Hobbs and Fowler are progressing. Much time and energy by staff is now going into 2008 budget preparations. There were two companies monitoring sound levels during the Fair. It was interesting that the highest sound decibels were recorded on a non-race day. Ritari (with the help of the staff) gave an extended recap of the various departments of the Fair, recognizing many strong areas and also some areas under consideration for needed improvements. Though some usual sponsorship canceled, new ones did well in covering the loss. He is hoping to have more activities for the youth in the future. Action Items The budget committee meeting will be November 6 at 11 am. Ritari said the staff will have their recommendations completed by October 30 and he will have the draft budget ready for board members to pick up on November 2. After the November 6th budget committee meeting, Ritari will attempt to have the final budget ready for review by the November 8th board meeting so it can be approved at the December 13th meeting. The decision was made that the staff/director workshop will be held in the Fair board room October 18. The decision was made that dates for the staff appreciation breakfast will be October 18 at 8:30 am, prior to the workshop. The decision was made that the directors’ retreat will be off site October 24. Baker will check on availability for location. Member Comments Longenecker asked for clarification of budget time-line as it affects the staff. Meekin said she would have recycle numbers for the board retreat. Phipps said that a report on website activity is forthcoming by first week in November. Baker thinks the staff makes positive efforts annually at tightening the budget. Many staff members donate many hours of labor without pay and use own equipment for Fair projects. Henry was welcomed as first-time attendee at a board meeting.
Board Comments Probasco feels the board covered much ground in tonight’s meeting. He will be attending November’s meeting via teleconference. Parks announced the Halloween Hollow October 31st She said many tell her they hear about that event via the Fair website. Willis appreciated the Fair recap given by staff. The Purple Heart ceremony done in the France Equestrian Center during Fair-time is being reported in national magazines. Retherford commended Ritari on his ideas on cross-promotion of Fair-time acts. Bush also appreciated the Fair recap given by staff. He feels there is a need to better market positive points about the Fair and not just the traffic/parking problems, and anticipates hearing the staff’s suggestions for saving more dollars in next year’s budget. Quill complimented Ritari for ideas to increase revenue and solve problems. She encouraged people to vote for Ritari in the Mat-Su Visitor & Convention Center’s board election. She is to give presentation about the Glenn Highway at tomorrow’s MSVC meeting. Harkey express his thanks for the Fair update and for the staff. The meeting recessed at 9:07 pm. The meeting returned to session at 9:10 pm. Probasco/Retherford/MCU: To go into Executive Session for negotiations and legal issues. The board came out of Executive Session and returned to its regular meeting at 9:52 pm. No action was taken. Probasco/ Quill/MCU: To adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 9:53 pm. |