HERMISTON — The Umatilla County Fair office recently moved to temporary space at the Stafford Hansell Government Center, 915 SE Columbia Drive, Hermiston.

The Eastern Oregon Trade and Event Center, 1705 E. Airport Road, which includes the Umatilla County Fairgrounds, is 2 miles from the government center. It has housed the fair personnel since the facility opened in 2017.

However, Umatilla County Commissioner Dan Dorran — the board of commissioner’s fair liaison — said the move was prompted by a “continual request and need” for a private office space for the fair manager, as well as noise levels at EOTEC because of pickleball and other events and activities.

“I can certainly attest to being part of many conversations/meetings where concerns about ongoing issues and challenges with EOTEC have been voiced/discussed over the past several years,” Fair Manager Angie McNalley said.

Out of the loop

However, the decision to move forward with the temporary plan, McNalley said, was made by the board of commissioners. Concerns about selecting the Stafford Hansell Government Center as the temporary office space was not universally supported by the fair board — including more than two years ago.

Fair board meeting minutes dated Jan. 19, 2022, indicate a brief discussion was held during “new business” regarding rumors of the fair office moving to the government center and the “negative impact it would have on the fair if it were to happen.” According to the minutes, the board supported keeping the office at EOTEC.

McNally said she became aware of plans for the temporary move a week before the Feb. 21 fair board meeting. According to the minutes, McNalley, along with Steve Wallace, fair board chairman, and Robbie Curry, a fair board director, said that the “cons of this move far outweigh the pros.”

Doug Bennett, a fair board director, said based on his experiences at EOTEC, he was in favor of the move. However, he said it would create inconveniences, including having to drive to two locations — one to take care of things on the grounds and the other to visit with fair staff.

In addition to questioning why the decision was made without a discussion with McNalley or the fair board, the minutes state concerns about the public perception, including people having to go through security and “possibly encounter dangerous individuals” — the government center houses a pair of Umatilla County’s circuit courtrooms.

Several people expressed concerns about bringing their children or grandchildren to the government center on the fair’s Feb. 27 Facebook post announcing the move. In addition, another questioned the reasoning behind a temporary move, only to return to EOTEC for the summer months.

Fair office discussions

During the April 13, 2022, fair board meeting, Dorran reported that per its lease agreement, a fair office would be constructed with money from the city of Hermiston. However, he noted that “other priorities have taken precedence.”

And in the Nov. 9, 2022, minutes, the consensus of the fair board is they were not in favor of a modular building design — calling it a “step backwards” — that Dorran emailed to McNalley. In addition, Wallace said he had heard “discontent from some of the people who donated money to build EOTEC.”

Also, during the Sept. 20, 2023, meeting, John Eckhardt, vice chairman, said the fair board needed an update on the status of funds available for constructing a fair office and additional storage.

Dorran said while the situation isn’t optimum, it is a temporary solution.

“There are options being considered on how to move forward with a permanent office that may or may not be on the EOTEC grounds,” he said. “Either way, the UCF staff will always work from the EOTEC grounds June through the fair period.”