“What we’ve got here is failure to communicate.”
The classic line from the 1967 movie “Cool Hand Luke” could very well be the problem behind much of the controversy between the Shawano Area Agricultural Society and the Shawano County Board.
Stretching back the past couple years and really coming to a head in the past few months is the concern with how the ag society operates, especially when county funds are in play.
“The ag society is not in any way a county committee,” said Bob Krause, ag society treasurer. “We never ever have received county funding for the operations of the fairgrounds in any way, manner or form. We act as a flow-through for the maintenance of the property, according to the lease.”
He said the gray area as of late is the maintenance of the fairgrounds and the rules by which the ag society handles maintenance issues.
Most recently, the land conservation and extension committee voted July 2 to accept a roof repair bid of $5,658.94 from Overhead Solutions contingent on the roof being steel (not shingles). The ag society had said earlier they could get materials for about $2,000 and repair the roof through a volunteer effort, similar to what’s been done before.
The committee had questions about the ag society’s plan, but no one from the society was present to answer questions (they were not asked to attend), so supervisors approved the bid sought by the county.
Krause said some questions have arisen because of new people being involved on all sides.
“When you have that, there’s a lot of questions, and people need to know their roles,” he said. “We’re really looking forward to an opportunity to meet with Nick (Hesse, county facilities management director) as a group to say, ‘What are you taking care of? What are we taking care of?’”
Dale Hodkiewicz, a member of the ag society for more than 50 years, including 20 years as president and 20 years as race director at the Shawano Speedway, reminded the committee that the group was $325,000 in debt 23 years ago.
He said the society paid off the debt and made substantial improvements including repairing leaky water lines, installing lights in the parking lots, filling in ditches, installing drainage tiles and repairing buildings.
“We never got a bid on anything,” Hodkiewicz said. “We knew who would do the best job for us and get it done in a timely manner.”
He also passed along a warning to anyone questioning the group’s operations.
“There is only three people who know how to shut the water off on that grounds, and those few people are upset and are ready to walk away,” he said. “So, if the county’s got to come in and do that job, that $5,000 on that roofing project, that $5,000 will be nothing when it comes to repair broken water lines and pay a fine, because believe me folks, there are valves and water lines all over that grounds. Keep that in mind.”
Hodkiewicz said that other than the current controversy, he only ever had one issue with a county supervisor and that was decades ago.
“I told him, ‘If you want to help us get through his mess, that would be great. If you don’t want to help us, step to the side. If you want to be a roadblock, we’re going to run you over,’” he said. “He stepped to the side.”
He also passed along advice to anyone questioning how things get done.
“People that are on the grounds know what needs to be done, not somebody that just walks in once in a while and walks around,” Hodkiewicz said. “There’s more to it than that.”
Supervisor Randy Young reminded Hodkiewicz and the ag society that Hesse takes direction from the public property committee.
For his part, Hesse said he was offended by the comments.
“We need somebody there, because this whole … thing about your roof would have all been cleared up at this last ag meeting,” he said. “I told Scott (Breitrick, president of the Shawano County Ag Society) I need a price list of items for that roof that you guys were going to be supplying so had apples to apples with the bids I got. Not just we can do it for two grand, and the roof is fixed. What is getting fixed on the roof? I received nothing.
“I’m doing what the committees told me what to do, go get bids to fix the roof. You guys are all worked up that we’re (spending) money on things that are unnecessary. It’s not on me. I’m doing what I’m asked here. I don’t appreciate any of that out of any of you.”
Supervisor Steve Schinke’s biggest concern is the board has to be responsible with taxpayer dollars.
“When things come to us after the fact, and want to get paid for things, I have a little bit of a problem with that,” he said. “I realize things happen, emergencies got to be done, whatever, but things that are not emergencies, we need better communication.”
“I get it,” Krause said. “We’re going to do better.”
The county board already has a member at each ag society meeting. The ag society agreed to send a member to each land conservation and extension committee meeting.
kpasson@newmedia-wi.com
