Board favors county funding fair salaries

STAR JOURNAL REPORT

The Oneida County Fair Board is forwarding a resolution to the county’s Conservation and UW-Extension Education Committee to fund the positions of the fair coordinator, treasurer and secretary, said Jim Winkler, who is the committee’s representative on the fair board.

The resolution calls for providing $21,130 in county funding to the fair in each of the next five years, so that the funds provided will be used for contract/employees, limited-term employees and other fair-realated expenses. Winkler noted the fair received around $13,000 from the county in 2016.

Winkler said the resolution also makes reference to having a long-term commitment for the fair to continue to be held at Pioneer Park in Rhinelander, where city officials have asked the county for a commitment of at least five years before making infrastructure improvements there, such as upgrading the park’s electrical system to benefit the fair.

Winkler said the resolution, which would require final approval by the full County Board, will be considered next month by the committee.