Supporters want fair boss reinstated
Supporters of ousted Fair Manager Jay Scott made their case to the Flathead County commissioners on Wednesday, reiterating demands they’ve publicized over the last several weeks.
In short, they want a new Fair Board appointed, they want Scott reappointed and they want Interim Fair Manager Ted Dykstra Jr.’s role clarified.
Commission Chairman Joe Brenneman was able to respond immediately to one of their concerns, pointing to a letter he’d just received from Dykstra indicating that Dykstra isn’t vying for the fair manager job.
In his letter, Dykstra said “at no time” did he consider applying for the manager job. He took a temporary leave of absence from his Fair Board seat to fill the interim slot, and noted he will provide any help the county needs in training a new manager, but after that he intends to step back into his role as vice chairman of the Fair Board.
The deadline to apply for the manager job was Wednesday. Brenneman said Scott had the opportunity to apply for the job, which reflects a new, broader job description for a manager who provides year-round oversight not only for the fairgrounds but also for the relatively new Expo Building and Trade Center facilities.
Scott did not return a call from the Inter Lake and has not made any public comments since being let go.
Gerry Banzet, who has led the “Support Jay Scott” movement, said 3,000 residents have signed a petition to reinstate Scott.
“It would do well for you commissioners to think about what 3,000 signatures mean,” Banzet said. “The good Jay Scott has done far outweighs any shortcomings. When has there ever been such an outpouring of support?”
Jackie Jung told the commissioners about how active Jay and his wife, Chris Scott, have been in youth activities related to the fair.
No one has yet been able to explain to the group’s satisfaction why Scott’s contract wasn’t renewed, Banzet said.
Brenneman said he had talked earlier one-on-one with Banzet about the need for fiscal accountability at the fairgrounds and the goal to make the facility self-supporting. The annual budget for the fairgrounds is about $1 million. Of that, taxpayers have subsidized $356,000 in the current fiscal year to operate the fairgrounds. The subsidy has been rapidly increasing, from $138,000 in fiscal year 2007 to $204,000 in fiscal 2009 and then the big jump this year.
Scott supporters also have questions about the procedural end of Scott’s contract non-renewal, namely whether proper public notice was made in advance of the decision on the contract.
Brenneman said it’s within the Fair Board’s right to choose to take a new direction by not renewing the manager’s contract.
“My understanding is that the [Fair Board] meeting was duly noticed,” Brenneman said.
There also were concerns about arrangements being made for the upcoming Northwest Montana Fair under the direction of an interim manager and the two remaining Fair Board members, chairman Butch Woolard and recently appointed Joy Struble.
Some wondered how the board can function without a quorum, and why fair publicity was being outsourced to Beargrass Marketing while Struble has a strong marketing background.
When someone asked about the by-laws under which the board operates, Woolard said there was once a copy but it had “disappeared.” County officials were trying to track down the by-laws after Wednesday’s meeting between Scott supporters and the commissioners.
The commissioners are taking applications until April 19 to fill the Fair Board vacancies left when Susan Munsinger and Paul Atkinson recently resigned.
Banzet listed a number of people the group would like to see appointed. They include Atkinson, former board member Terry Fosbery, Ed Hankinson, Jeff Jung, Renee Caverly, Ron Schlegel, Lynn Tripp, Bill Voermans and Craig Witte.
Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by e-mail at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com