Hancock fair board adopts new comment policy

FINDLAY — Visitors to Hancock County Fair Board meetings will now need to plan ahead if they want to speak. At its Dec. 1 meeting, the board unanimously adopted a policy requiring anyone wishing to comment to sign up at least 24 hours in advance by emailing the fair office. The move also caps public comment at three minutes per speaker, and 15 minutes total per meeting. Attendees were reminded of the change at last week's January meeting with flyers placed on every seat. When asked why the policy was needed, Jeff Beach, Fair Board vice president, said the board needed "improved efficiency" during the comments section of the meeting. "This policy helps ensure that public input is heard while also allowing the board to complete its work efficiently and stay on track with its agenda," he said. Beach, as vice president, was officially approved as the board spokesperson at the January board meeting. Members of the media were told on Dec. 18 that "all media inquiries should be directed to (him)." Last week, Beach told The Courier that a spokesperson was needed "to make it easier for the local media to receive timely responses from the Agricultural Society." This is not the first time in recent months the fair board has designated a new media correspondent. On Nov. 11, The Courier received email correspondence from the "Communications and Public Relations Team" with responses to questions about the Flinchbaugh Estate, funds left to the board by the estate of a Findlay resident to be used to continue fair activities. The questions asked by The Courier were emailed to board president, Levi Beagle, treasurer John Livingston and office manager, Haley Reese. The funds were previously put in a CD to earn interest and would need a supermajority vote to be unrestricted, which occurred at the November meeting to address a $75,000 operating deficit (at the time). This team told The Courier the funds were unrestricted but have not been moved into the operating account. Financial records show the estate fund is currently at a little over $202,000. At the Dec. 1 meeting, the fair board voted to approve the creation of the "Communications and Public Relations Team," on the recommendation of the board's executive committee made Nov. 11, according to fair board minutes. Beagle told the board in December that the move was "to give a group dynamic to our responses, instead of individual people." The name of the team indicates it may have been created to address members of the public and media, though Beach said this is not the case. "The communications committee … was established to enhance communications between the board and its membership," Beach said. "This committee is charged with establishing a plan to ensure regular communication is occurring." He also said the committee is "still in the process of fully developing this committee of volunteers." The Hancock County Fairgrounds website did not mention the team or list its members as of Monday, Jan. 12.