Meetings watch: Events Center director defends expenses

CLOVIS — Curry County Events Center and Fairground Director K.C. Messick gave county commissioners the June financial report Monday, but ended up answering various questions on county fair expenses.

Commissioner Chet Spear asked why the Grupo Mezcal band received $6,000 to play this year, along with six hotel rooms and a case of beer versus $3,500 in 2019.

Messick said the higher contract, which was negotiated in 2020 before the fair was canceled due to the pandemic, required the band bring in its own audio equipment versus using county equipment as it did in 2019.

The hotel rooms were simply what was negotiated, Messick said, and the beer was a standard contract rider that to his knowledge was not redeemed.

Spear lamented that a limited crowd went to see the concert, which Messick called a result of poor weather and an indoor relocation.

In other business at Monday’s meeting:

• Commissioners approved on a 4-1 vote an amendment to a 2020 resolution that gave County Manager Lance Pyle emergency powers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The resolution required any modifications made by Pyle must be brought to the commission at its next meeting for ratification.

Commissioner Robert Sandoval voted against the resolution, arguing it amounted to micromanaging.

• The commission approved a pair of loans to buy fire trucks for volunteer departments. A 10-year, $181,677 loan was approved for the Pleasant Hill department while an 11-year, $278,089 loan was approved for the Ranchvale department.

Spear said he didn’t want the county on the hook for fire equipment if a department failed to stay solvent, and asked what would happen in that instance. County Fire and Safety Director David Kube said the state would take over the asset and assign it to another department with its own loan agreement.

• The next commission meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. Sept. 14 at the Curry County Administrative Complex.