POCATELLO — The Bannock County Commissioners and members of the county’s fair board have apparently come to terms on that entity’s future, one commissioner said Thursday. 

But neither side is disclosing those terms until the commissioners’ regular meeting on June 4. 

The commissioners and the fair board members have been at odds for the past few months over the role the fair board should have when it comes to fairgrounds operations in North and South Bannock County. The fair board has historically had governing authority over operating the fairgrounds facilities in Downey and Pocatello under an interpretation of Idaho Statutes that gives the fair board such power. 

A decision by the commissioner last year, however, brought that interpretation into question. Ian Service, chief civil deputy for the Bannock County Prosecutor’s Office, was asked by the commissioners to review operations throughout the county to ensure each department was complying with applicable statutes and other legal requirements. 

What Service determined is that the fair board was given far more authority that it should have. Under his interpretation of state statutes, the fair board is given governing authority over operating and planning the two county fairs and that’s the limit of their power. 

Service fashioned a new ordinance under which the fair board would operate, giving the board governing powers over the fairs themselves, and an advisory status over all other matters concerning the properties. 

That ordinance was passed last November and a new seven-member fair board was appointed in January. Some members of the new board were part of the old fair board and they quickly realized just how much the board’s authority had diminished. 

In early April, frustrated over certain issues, including a letter from the Idaho Attorney General’s Office calling the new ordinance into question, Commissioner Howard Manwaring motioned during a meeting that the ordinance be repealed and the fair board be given only those powers designated under Idaho Statutes. 

That move meant the fair board had only governing power over the fairs themselves and was stripped of its advisory capacity in all other matters. 

Within Manwaring’s motion was also the setting of a town hall public hearing on April 30, during which all those who had concerns would have a chance to express themselves. That motion passed. 

But a few days prior to the April 30 meeting, during an emergency meeting of the Bannock County Commissioners, the fair board was suspended altogether pending the outcome of what was being called an audit of the fair board’s finances at the time. 

The meeting was initiated by the commissioners at the request of Bannock County Prosecutor Steve Herzog based on continued investigations by Service, which had raised concerns. The biggest concern they would state at the time was that all who use the facilities, both north and south, should be treated equitably. 

The April 30 town hall public hearing was still held, however, and about 22 of the more than 75 people in attendance spoke to the commissioners about their concerns. 

The commissioners took the remarks under advisement, planning to meeting the first week of May to determine how to move forward. 

Manwaring, on Thursday, said commissioners met with members of the still suspended fair board on Wednesday to hash out their differences. He said they have “tentatively” reached an agreement. 

“We had an extremely productive meeting (on Wednesday) and ironed out what we felt was a really good solution that will get things moving again,” Manwaring said. “It was a very positive meeting and everyone was pretty much on the same page.” 

But because that meeting was during an executive session of the commissioners, Manwaring said he cannot discuss the terms of that potential agreement. 

Those terms, he said, will come out during the commissioners next regular meeting on June 4, when he makes a motion regarding the fair board. 

“We reached some agreements and we are all on the same page,” Manwaring said. “I believe both sides are extremely pleased with where we are heading.” 

Dale Almond, chair of the currently suspended fair board, also declined to talk about the specifics of Wednesday’s meeting, preferring to allow them to come out in the next meeting. 

He did, however, confirm that the meeting was productive. 

“It was a very positive meeting and we as a board are very comfortable with the outcome,” he said. 

As far as the audit goes, Manwaring said that isn’t complete yet, anticipating it will be done by mid-June. But he also attempted to better define the investigation. 

“It’s more of an evaluation of the county procedures,” he said. “We hope to have it finished in the next couple of weeks and make a determination on what changes we may need to make.”