Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By P.J. GLISSON
Bessemer — Members of the Gogebic County Board of Commissioners’ Personnel and Negotiations Committee explored last week the possibility of hiring a temporary coordinator for the county fair.
The fair coordinator position has remained open since Marlene Saari resigned from that role late last year.
The committee’s informal discussion centered around whether the fairgrounds might be better served by a fairground administrator with a broader range of duties regarding the fairgrounds at large.
“What are your intentions?” asked County Administrator Juliane Giackino. “Are you looking at hiring one position or two?”
“I think we need more information,” said committee member Joe Bonovetz.
Committee member Thomas Laabs said he intended for the county to hire only one person. “We need a job description,” he said.
Saari had intended to leave the job as of the start of this year but continued her duties for a couple of extra months while that position was advertised.
However, as of the March 4 Fair Board meeting, Giackino assumed Saari’s duties on a temporary basis.
She also informed personnel committee members that she does not have time to continue in that role indefinitely.
Bonovetz asked how many hours were required and whether a temporary service could be used.
Giackino said that when she agreed to assume Saari’s duties, she had assumed there would be no 2024 fair, whereas Fair Board officials now are aiming to organize this year’s fair at another location because the County Board closed access to the fairgrounds for a fair.
Because this year’s fair now seems likely, Giackino said that her fair-related paperwork and hours will continue to grow, thus increasing the need to hire someone to take over those tasks.
Committee member George Peterson III said Giackino’s description of the role indicates that an administrator likely is needed.
Committee member James Lorenson said hiring a fair coordinator could be complicated if the board later desired to replace that role with a fairground administrator.
Daniel Siirila, who chairs the committee, said that no decision should be made until the status of the 2024 fair is official.
Hence, Lorenson said that hiring a temporary secretary could help to fill the gap until a decision on a permanent position is made.
Bonovetz suggested just gathering information for now.
Laabs concluded that, if a temporary worker is hired, that person should work under the guidance of Giackino, who will explore temporary employee options.
Also at the March 6 meeting, the committee discussed problems with how winter storage agreements are arranged in relation to fairground buildings.
Committee members — who also are county commissioners, to whom final votes are referred — considered whether those responsibilities should be included within the suggested fairground administrator role.
