From the Gainesville Sun

By Christopher Curry
Staff writer

After a 40-year run, there will be no Alachua County Fair in 2010.

Alachua County government will not allow the nonprofit Alachua County Fair Association to use the county-owned fairgrounds property because the organization owes money to at least five companies that were vendors for last year's fair as well as cattle exhibitors.

The nonprofit Fair Association also has missed a deadline to apply to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for a required permit.

"They have not applied for a permit, and under the statute you have to get us the application at least 90 days in advance (of the event)," Department of Agriculture spokesman Terry McElroy said.

The fair traditionally has been held in late October.

Unpaid bills for exhibits and utilities have been an issue for the nonprofit Fair Association since the 2008 fair. In April 2009, the County Commission voted not to renew the Fair Association's lease to operate and manage the fairgrounds because of those debts. County government took over annual management of the property, 2900 N.E. 39th Ave., but said the Fair Association could continue to run the annual fair as well as operate a campground there during Gatornationals weekend.

Then, in March, the county nearly prohibited the Fair Association from using the site for Gatornationals camping because of unpaid utility bills owed to Gainesville Regional Utilities. According to GRU, the Fair Association upheld its end of a payment plan for that event and paid the utility nearly $3,000. But more than $50,400 owed to GRU remains outstanding.

Meanwhile, individuals and businesses who exhibited cattle at last year's fair have gone nearly a year without being paid.

"They never paid anybody," said Jay Johns, with JJ Florida Herefords.

Johns said the Fair Association owes him $1,500 and estimated that a total of nearly $5,000 is owed to cattle exhibitors.

Assistant County Manager Rick Drummond said five companies that contracted last year with the Fair Association have provided the county invoices detailing the money they are owed from last year's fair. Combined, they are owed $3,980.

According to the county, the firms and amounts owed to them are: United Rent-All ($730); Fair Publishing House ($650); Waste Pro ($750); Davis Gas ($800) and K Country Advertising ($1,050).

Drummond said those debts would not have to be paid in advance for county government to allow the Fair Association use of the fairgrounds this year, but he said the organization needed to provide a "payment plan approved by creditors."

Fair Association President Jesse Lewis could not be reached for comment Friday.

Drummond said that based on prior discussions with Lewis, the Fair Association had lost money on the fair in each of the past three years. He said he was not sure of the specific amount.

Right now, the future of the county fair remains unclear. Drummond said if there is a span of three consecutive years without a fair, state government will decertify the Fair Association. He said county government could step in and run the fair in future years, but that decision would lie with county commissioners. There is also the possibility that a new Fair Association could form to take over the event.

The cancellation of the county fair does not affect the annual Alachua County Youth Fair & Livestock Show that the Alachua County Extension Office and University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences sponsors in the spring.

Contact Christopher Curry at 374-5088 or chris.curry@gvillesun.com.