Benton commissioners change fairgrounds board terms

A funny thing happened after Benton County imposed two, two-year term limits on members of the Fairgrounds Improvement Board.

All five served one term, then a second, on the board, which concerns itself with conditions at the Benton County Fairgrounds in Kennewick.

That means the entire board is subject to being out of office at the end of 2016. Starting anew with an inexperienced board would be “disadvantageous,” R.J. Lott, a planner who staffs the board’s semi-regular meetings, told the Benton County Commission on Tuesday.

Commissioners agreed and changed the rules. Now, fairground board members can serve up to five, two-year terms.

The move wasn’t without some grumbling. Commissioner Jim Beaver wondered why the all-volunteer board is subject to term limits at all.

“It’s government at its finest,” he said.

Current board members are Amanda Matthiessen, Jeff Van Meigham, Dave McDaniel, Jan Wiggins and Mike Holstein. It met four times in 2015.

Fairgrounds events include meetings, trade shows, livestock events, concerts, sporting events and, of course, the Benton Franklin Fair & Rodeo.

This story was originally published January 12, 2016 at 10:05 PM with the headline "Benton commissioners change fairgrounds board terms."