Council OKs use of Memorial Park ball field by MCFA
After a meeting with city representatives and Marion County Fair Board, Hillsboro City Council met Friday in a special meeting to reconsider the use of Memorial Park ball field by Marion County Fair Board.
The council voted July 19 not to allow the fair board to use the ball field for the carnival. However, the fair board asked the council to reconsider its decision.
"They requested the use of the outfield of the ball diamond one more year due to not enough time to pursue a different location," said council member Shelby Dirks. "If we allow them to use it, they will clean up the area and make needed repairs."
The fair board said the carnival will be at a different location next year.
"If we do this, they need to work with Matt (Dalke, recreation director) and correct things to his liking," said council member Matt Hiebert. "Make it known that this is the last year."
"We will probably have to take down the temporary fence," said Garrett.
"What they want to do is have all of the stock trailers lined up on the outside of fence and carnival inside the fence," said Mayor Delores Dalke. "Matt said if the fence is there it is made for crawling over. Chuck McLinden said the fair board wants the fence up for a dividing line. I'm not in favor of that."
It was the consensus of the council that the fence should be removed and replaced with a rope to divide the ball field from parking.
"The fair board wants to stretch out the fair — the derby on one side, the fair in the middle, and the carnival on the other side," said Garrett. "I think if we give the board time to work it out for next year, they will."
"After the carnival, Memorial Field will go back to being only a ball field," said Dirks.
The council approved use of the outfield of Memorial Field by the fair board for this year's fair with the stipulations that the ball field is cleaned and repaired in a timely manner according to Dalke's specifications.
In other business, the council agreed by consensus to adjust council meeting times beginning in the middle of August through October.
