RV park grant pause continues

By BRIAN WALKER

Staff Writer

COEUR d'ALENE — The North Idaho Fair Board will have to wait a little longer to know whether a planned recreational vehicle park at the fairgrounds will get off the ground.

Kootenai County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Barry Black told county commissioners Wednesday the county has legal authority to administer a $342,000 Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation grant on behalf of the fair board to construct a 28-lot RV park at the northeast corner of the county-owned fairgrounds site on Dalton Avenue between the sheriff's office and Coeur d'Alene High.

However, whether the county wants to proceed with that responsibility remains a question.

County Clerk Jim Brannon submitted legal questions to Black on Wednesday regarding what the county's risks and liabilities would be when it assumes grant administration duties for boards such as the fair that keep their own books and act as their own business.

The county owns the land at the fairgrounds, contributes to the fair operations and appoints fair board members, but the board acts independently from the county.

That unique relationship — and the fact the county would be breaking new ground if it administers the grant — has the Clerk's Office being cautious before it commits, said Dena Darrow, the county's finance director.

"If there's cost overruns on the project, the county would be responsible," Darrow said. "That's not fair to the taxpayer. We just want to make sure all our legal questions are answered so that we can feel confident about moving forward."

Commissioners decided to continue the RV park grant matter until a future meeting on a date to be determined when Black can answer Brannon's questions. The next meeting is expected to be held within the next two weeks.

Commissioners were also briefed on the grant on Monday, but decided to continue the topic on Wednesday when Black could give his opinion on whether the county can legally administer the funds.

Fair board chairman Gerald Johnson, who attended Wednesday's meeting with other board members, and fair general manager Alexcia Jordan, took the further delay in the grant process in stride.

"It just takes time," he said. "With the snow on the ground, we can't do much now anyway."

The previous county commission, which only included Marc Eberlein among the current board members, approved the grant on behalf of the fair board in December.

The fair board will be responsible for a $46,000 match of cash and in-kind services to trigger the grant funds.

Under the grant administration proposal, the county would make payments on the project up front, then would be reimbursed from the grant and fair board. Fair board members said they have the funds to provide their match. The county's Grant Management Office, Clerk's Office and Building and Grounds would work collaboratively on administering the project.

Brannon was at another meeting on Wednesday, but Darrow represented the Clerk's Office.

"We support the fair and want them to do well," Darrow said. "If they operate alone, that saves the taxpayers money and we're all for that. But, with any government money, there's a lot of strings attached so we want to make sure we're following all the rules so there doesn't become a big liability to the taxpayers.

"It's the first time this is being done, so we want to make sure what we're doing is right."

Commissioner Chris Fillios said he supports the pause.

"We want to make sure Clerk Brannon's concerns are addressed and that whatever decision that we make at the end of the day is at least done amicably," he said. "Hopefully we'll have resolution soon."

The RV park will be a three-phase project and is intended to generate income for the fairgrounds. The first phase, which is ready to be designed, could be finished as soon as July and consist of 28 compact gravel lots. The grant and matching funds would pay for the first phase.

The second phase would include paving, improved accessibility and sewer. A grant for that phase has been applied for and construction could occur next year. The third phase would include restrooms and showers.

The RV park would be open year-round and there would be a 14-day stay limit.

The project comes on the heels of a contentious 2016 the fair had operations-wise.

The Clerk's Office performed an internal audit of the fairgrounds last year and later ordered a forensic audit that was approved by commissioners on the operation's finances. Between the audits, former fair manager Dane Dugan resigned after it was noted in the first audit he had taken 16 advance pay draws.

Although some sloppy business practices were identified in the forensic audit, nothing malicious or criminal was discovered.