Lawmaker: State Fair Not 'Out of the Woods' Yet

Recent word that State Fair hard drives carrying key financial information had been wiped clean has at least one state senator holding her breath.

Bellevue’s Carol Blood tells News Channel Nebraska, “Do I think they’re out of thewoods, I do not.”

That follows a November claim by Pat Kopke, that the Fair was going bankrupt, had lost a reported $1.7 million dollars. After dropping that bombshell the Board’s Chief Financial Officer abruptly resigned.

Lori Cox the Executive Director called the numbers exaggerated but, along with the board, ordered several budget and personnel cuts.

This following a series of controversies.

There are accusations by Grand Island Radio Station KRGI that the board has “Violated the Nebraska Public Records Act.”

The board’s surprising response: That it’s, “A private corporation and not a public body subject to Nebraska Public Records law.”

That despite the fact that the State Legislature has specific oversight of the board. 

The lawsuit goes on to claim that at its November get-together the board also broke the state’s open meeting law, going behind closed doors to discuss personnel issues but later admitting they talked about the budget, a topic arguably off-limits behind closed doors.

The board denies it broke the open meeting law, despite what Cox said in response to a question from KRGI.

KGRI: Are you willing to say on record whether or not budget issues were held during that executive session.

Cox: It was exactly as it was stated that budget and personnel issues were discussed in executive session and as I’m sure you could imagine we had to discuss the very difficult process about releasing employees and yeah it was a tough, tough meeting.”

All this finds Senator Blood telling NCN she thinks the board is “Making an honest effort to get things fixed."

On those financial questions she adds she’ll, “Feel a lot better once they find out what’s on those hard drives.”

Fair Board officials say the erased information will be retrieved.

Governor Ricketts tells NCN he’s told the board to reach out to successful fairs and “steal their good ideas” adding he’s “Confident the board will demonstrate the leadership needed to keep the fair healthy and growing.”

All that in the face of this now well-known public comment from Cox last October.

“There is no reason for false accusations, discrimination, gossip or collusion.”