County board hears public support for 2024 fair

BESSEMER — Members of the Gogebic County Board of Commissioners and the Gogebic County Fair Board again reached an impasse during a meeting last week.

In the county board’s previous meeting, commissioners requested that fair board members provide a plan of how they conceive a 2024 county fair.

But Fair Board Member Linda Nelson instead requested more input from commissioners regarding precisely what they wish in relation to the pending fair.

Nelson said that fair board members held a long meeting on Dec. 14 to discuss how to approach the 2024 fair, which they agreed could be scaled back as needed.

At last week’s meeting, she repeated a previous concern regarding the need to complete contracts with a rodeo, a carnival, vendors and entertainment.

“We really have some time constraints now,” said Nelson, who asked that the board make a decision on the fate of the fair by the start of the new year.

“I thought the intent was to let the board know you’re putting together a plan,” said Board Chairman James Lorenson, who is now also on the fair board.

“I’m not sure what you want,” said Commissioner Joseph Bonovetz.

Fair Board Member Thomas Hampston said fair board members want the use of the fairgrounds for the 2024 fair and for other events.

Bonovetz requested a written proposal. Commissioner Thomas Laabs added that fair board members need to explain precisely what and when they will do — in writing — in relation to organizing a 2024 fair.

“We have liabilities at issue,” added Bonovetz, explaining that he’d also like to see those addressed, along with a timeline of intended action by fair board members

Vocing support for a 2024 fair were two local community members: veterinarian Donald Martinson of Bessemer and Marc Behrendt, president of Ironwood’s Aurora Club.

“Personally, the fair means a lot to me,” said Behrendt, who described it as “a bonding experience” for himself and his family.

Behrendt said that the Aurora Club has a food and beverage booth at the fair.

He claimed that while members run the booth, they make money for the club, but they also then distribute it to a variety of good causes within the community.

“I ask you, please, don’t take this away from the kids,” said Behrendt.

Martinson mentioned at least seven local 4-H members who were inspired, like himself, to become veterinarians.

“There are people all over the community who have been substantially impacted by the fair,” he said.

Moreover, added Martinson, “We need to disabuse ourselves of the fact that the fair is an August agricultural exposition.”

He assured that he would like to see the fair expand beyond that.

In other news at the Dec. 20 meeting, commissioners voted to accept a Dec. 16 letter of resignation from Fair Coordinator Marlene Saari, who will become the clerk for Ironwood Township as of Jan. 1, 2024.

Lorenson and Commissioner James Byrns, who also chairs the county’s Fair Board, expressed thanks to Saari for her service.

In additional matters relating to the fair, commissioners also:

—Voted to authorize the fair board to approve the hosting of special events at the county fairgrounds, with the contingency that supervision is provided by a fair board member.

—Heard James Gribble, president of the Friends of the Fair, describe his nonprofit group’s “whole purpose” as “to help with the fair, help to relieve the county’s burden.” He also supplied a list of member contacts.