Supervisors hear update from fair board

The Washington County Board of Supervisors heard an update on the Washington County Fair from members of the Washington County Fair Board at its meeting Tuesday morning. Board chairman Jim Miksch asked the fair board members if there were any areas of improvement they wished to talk about. Fair board treasurer Jarrod Horning said the board would add another road that enters the fairgrounds near the camping area from Highway 1.

?We?re trying to keep the traffic on the outside of the grounds for safety,? Horning said.

Horning said the fair board is still trying to work out the details for moving the round barn in the northern part of the county to the fairgrounds. Miksch asked the board members what they knew about the progress on moving the round barn. Fair board vice president Don Lewis said the owners have certain conditions they want to be met and that the tourism committee is still discussing those issues with them.

Horning said, ?The design of the building is such that it?s not going to be real usable for us, mainly because of the heat factor in the summer time.?

Fair board president Jerome Vittetoe said he went to the city of Washington?s comprehensive planning committee?s meeting earlier this month. He said the committee is working on ways of developing the area east of the fairgrounds by putting streets in there.

?Our streets and their streets are going to line up someday,? he said.

Washington County Sheriff Jerry Dunbar addressed the supervisors about a personnel matter involving deputy Jason Schlabaugh. Schlabaugh leads the canine unit and had been working 7.5-hour days. Recently, he began working eight-hour days. Dunbar asked the supervisors to increase his salary to reflect the additional hours he is putting in, and the supervisors approved the request.

Washington County Public Health director Edie Nebel asked the supervisors to change the status of case manager Susan Mitchell from a 24-hour part-time employee to 32-hour part-time employee. Nebel said the change in status reflects the hours Mitchell is working, and the change in status will affect the benefits Mitchell receives. The supervisors approved the request.

Washington County Engineer Jacob Thorius addressed the board about bridge inspection and rating. Thorius recommended hiring the firm Calhoun-Burns and Associates to inspect 25 bridges this year for about $4,000 and 159 bridges next year for about $20,000. The supervisors approved the request.