Second Draft of Agreement Proposed

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, February 03, 2010

Draft Fair and Fairgrounds Agreement Revised Based on Public Input

Washington County would like to hear from the public by February 19 about a revised agreement draft between the Board of County Commissioners and the Washington County Fair Board. Based on input from the public, changes have been made to the draft agreement that would:

• Identify general interest areas to be represented in Board appointments,
• Change the Fairgrounds "Coordinator" to Fairgrounds "Manager," and
• Clarify that access will be provided to the Fair Board and groups who participate in the annual Fair event during interim (non-Fair) times of the year.

The primary goal of the revised agreement draft continues to be that of strengthening the Fair event held each year at the 101-acre County Fair Complex property located at the intersection of NE Cornell Road and NE 34th Avenue in Hillsboro.

Other provisions of the revised, draft agreement that would remain the same include:

• Strengthening partnership and collaboration among the Board of Commissioners, Fair Board, Fair Boosters, county staff and other interested parties;
• Clarifying Fair Board and county roles and responsibilities and formalizing channels of communication and collaboration;
• Focusing energy, passion and expertise of the Fair Board on the production of the Fair event;
• Optimizing operational efficiencies and leveraging the resources, staff and expertise of Washington County; and
• Forming and staffing an advisory committee to the Board of Commissioners to provide input for updating and implementing the Fairgrounds Master Plan, Fairgrounds Capital Projects Plan and other major site-related initiatives.

Members of the public are welcome to review the updated proposal and send written comments by February 19 to the Board of County Commissioners.

Please visit www.co.washington.or.us/fair for background and to download a form to submit written testimony.

For more information, e-mail: [email protected] or call (503) 846-8685.

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