The El Paso County Fair and Events Center is staying in county hands, rather than being turned over to an outside organization. The Board of County Commissioners authorized the merger of the county fair with the county’s parks and leisure services department.The merger will allow professional staff to continue operating the fair, which reduces the county’s liability as well as maintaining elected official oversight.Parks’ staff will provide supplemental services, such as maintenance and supervisory guidance. The fair staff will be transferred to a special events division to be created within the parks department. This new division will be responsible for the fair and other special events.The fairgrounds will be converted to a new regional park, which makes it eligible for conservation trust fund monies. The funds and the parks services department will be a great asset because the county subsidy of $138,000 is scheduled to end this year. Consolidating services also allows for efficiency and better use of taxpayer dollars.The 100th running of the El Paso County Fair will celebrate its 100th anniversary in July 2005.
