Bonner County commissioners on Dec. 4 agreed to clarify the chain of command for staff who maintain the county fairgrounds and to limit the fair board’s responsibilities to the annual fair event, directing county Human Resources to prepare revised job descriptions.

The decision came after Director Holmgren, Bonner County’s HR director, warned commissioners that fairgrounds employees—who are paid by the county—have reported confusion and demoralization because some fair board members have tried to direct their work. "The fair board has been operating beyond the scope of its responsibility for some time and has veered into the lane of responsibility that belongs to the BOCC under Idaho code section 31-807," Holmgren said during the meeting.

Why it matters: Commissioners said unclear duties have created employment-law risk and disrupted maintenance of county property used year-round for events. Legal counsel and the prosecutor's office advised that the fair board’s authority depends on what the BOCC delegates and that, as county-owned property, ultimate responsibility rests with the commissioners.

Legal context and options discussed
Commission counsel and the prosecutor’s office cited Idaho Code provisions in the discussion. Holmgren and others referenced Idaho Code §31-807 (authority of the board of county commissioners to "take care of, manage and control" county property) and chapter provisions in Title 22 describing fair-board powers. Counsel noted that some language in statute refers to a "fair district" and that interpretation may differ if property had been transferred to such a district; the presenters said Bonner County has not transferred the fairgrounds to a fair district.

The meeting explored two practical frameworks. One option would treat the fairboard’s role as event-specific—akin to a short-term lease or user agreement—so the fairboard plans and runs the annual fair while county employees remain responsible for year-round facility maintenance. The alternative would let the fair board employ seasonal staff (authorized under Title 22) but would require the board to address insurance, employer identification, and other employment-law obligations.

Prosecutor Nate Adams summarized the legal baseline: the fair board only has the authority the BOCC delegates, and the BOCC can limit that delegation. "If the commissioners give a more expansive authority to the fair board ... to manage the fairgrounds throughout the whole year, then that is ... dependent on the grant of authority from the commissioners," Adams said.

Action taken and next steps
Commissioner S3 moved that fairgrounds employees "answer only to the Board of County Commissioners" and that the BOCC define the fair board’s role; Commissioner S1 seconded. The board took a roll call and the motion passed. During the discussion commissioners agreed to instruct HR to:

- Draft revised job descriptions for the Fairgrounds Manager and related positions to state that those employees report to the BOCC (or the BOCC’s designated managers), not to the fair board; and
- Notify the fair board of the BOCC’s intent and prepare for collaborative meetings to define time frames (when the fair board’s responsibility begins and ends) and coordination procedures.

Robert Abel of the prosecutor’s office said staff will reach out to similarly sized counties to collect models and best practices for structuring the relationship between commissioners, fair boards, and fairgrounds staff. Adams added he was not aware of controlling case law on the topic.

What was not decided
No ordinance or binding transfer of property was adopted at the meeting. Commissioners agreed to return with a proposed plan and revised job descriptions for formal consideration and possible vote at a later date. The board did not specify exact fair start and end dates; participants said staff would research historical timing and present recommended time frames.

Quotes
"County employees who are paid by the board of commissioners ... are not paid by the fair board," Holmgren said. "The fair board or certain members of the fair board are attempting to direct their work."

"The fair board only has authority as the commissioners give it," prosecutor Nate Adams said. "You can give them as much or as little responsibility as the board chooses."

Next procedural step
HR will draft the revised job descriptions and the BOCC’s staff will notify the fair board and schedule coordinating meetings. The board adjourned at 2:11 p.m.