Lee County Fair: Is it on or off? Association hits contract snag
The centennial Southwest Florida and Lee County Fair will continue as scheduled next year, Lee County officials announced Friday.
After hearing reports that the fair was cancelled because of the county's decision not to use the Southwest Florida & Lee County Fair Association to run the fair, the association announced it would cancel the festivities.
The cancellation lasted less than a day; county officials say the 100th anniversary fair will begin on Feb. 24.
"We have to ensure that fair happens, the board (of county commissioners) gave us clear direction," said Lee County Manager David Harner.
County commissioners effectively took over the county fair after announcing Tuesday that it reached an impasse with the fair association board over a new contract. Harner said the county will work to make it the same success as prior fairs.
"They will have the same experienced (workers). We have a lot of volunteers that have volunteered for many years, 30-plus years, running the fair," Harner said. "It's not just us."
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Contract woes strip association of 2024 county fair
The association released a statement Wednesday blaming the cancellation on the county’s inability to negotiate a new contract to operate the fair.
“In April, the county commission directed staff that the 100th fair would be held and to work with the fair board to negotiate a terms,” the association’s statement said. “The fair board submitted their counterproposal and there was no further communication from the county staff."
Harner responded at a Thursday morning news conference at the Lee County Courthouse, and saying the county has the ability to conduct the fair, even if the fair association does not participate.
"We tried to work with them all the way past the expiration date, our last conversation was the Monday, before (the commission's) meeting."
The county owns the fairgrounds and took control of the property and buildings last spring. After taking over, the county focused on repairing and remediating damage caused by Hurricane Ian in September 2022.
"The (commissioners) directed that we negotiate with the fair association for the conduct of the 2024 fair," said County Attorney Richard Wesch. "Their response was a request for a six-year extension. We indicated to those officials from the fair association that we didn’t have authority to negotiate a six-year extension."
Members of the fair board said at the Tuesday county commission meeting that it was willing to continue talks with the county aimed at breaking the deadlock over fair management.
“We can work out our impasse with the staff," said Fair Board Chairman Mike Peak during the public speaking portion of the commission meeting. "We are in a position where we are equipped. We are professionals. We know the game; we can bring a great fair as we always do ... we can keep our philanthropy going."
Assistant County Manager Christine Brady had told the commissioners that when the contract ran out, the fair board was no longer in charge of the annual fair.
"Negotiations with the fair board have reached an impasse because the fair board is asking for items that do not meet the (board of county commissioners) direction," Brady said. "As of Sept. 30, the fair board has removed the livestock pens, scales and bleachers. We will need to procure additional equipment for the 4-H program that will be dedicated solely to that youth program."
Commissioner Mike Greenwell has been the county board's liaison to the fair.
"The 2024 Lee County Fair will happen, it will happen at the Lee County Civic Center" Greenwell said. There has bene misinformation that has run that an entity must run the fair − that is not true, Lee County will be running the fair.
On Tuesday, the fair association appeared shocked at the county's decision.
"This the first that we have heard that there has been an impasse," said Fran Crone. Crone has served as the manager of the non-profit fair for the past decade.
According to the fair board’s income tax return for 2021 the latest publicly available, the fair had revenue of $4.5 million, an increase from $3 million in the previous year. The commission said it spent $3.48 million on expenses, leaving a balance of $416,000.
The association’s tax return for 2021 indicates that Crone was the fair board ‘s only paid employee. earning $94,000 in the 2021 budget year. The association has had a board of directors with 14 members, none of who received a salary
The fair board said in its statement that “there is no other Southwest Florida and Lee County Fair Association Inc. No one else can hold the 100th Annual Southwest Florida and Lee County Fair. It belongs to us. Some may try, but please do not be fooled.”
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Lee County Fair is off, then on again amid county contract dispute
