At last Tuesday night’s meeting of the Pierce County Board, most of the people in attendance were there for something that wasn’t on the agenda.

A proposed ordinance that would increase powers of the Public Health Director in times where communicable disease is prevalent was taken off the agenda, and a special meeting will be held in the River Falls High School Auditorium Tuesday, July 14 at 6 p.m.

The county board was in session at the Law Enforcement Center, and the meeting was televised in the Courthouse Annex conference room and in the entryway to the building.

A number of speakers took the podium in the public comment period to oppose the ordinance with the issue that might seem to be more political, as in speakers didn’t feel their freedoms could be taken away and one speaker predicted the matter would end up in court if it’s passed by the board.

Most of the group there for that matter retreated to the side yard of the courthouse where an impromptu political rally was held, complete with distribution of political yard signs.

The meeting in River Falls allows for a large enough space that the county board and citizens can meet in one place. The board will consider a first reading of the proposed health ordinance at the meeting, meaning if that gets approval, it’s not the final vote.

The main matter of business lingering before the board was a vote on whether to hold this year’s Pierce County Fair. It ultimately was

See FAIR, Page 9 defeated by a 10-7 vote. A proposed limited fair for 4H and other judging wasn’t deemed to be safe, some supervisors said, and it would be difficult to limit attendance on grounds to less than 50 people.

An amendment to the resolution to have a limited fair was offered, and that was to cancel the fair and the motocross event for this year. After debate, much of it difficult to hear through the television feed, that passed. Voting in favor were Jon Aubart, Ruth Wood, Cecil Bjork, Michael Kahlow, Paula Lugar, Neil Gulbranson, Dale Auckland, Daniel Puhrmann, Jerry Kosin and Jeff Holst. Voting against were Kris Sampson, Jim Asbach, Scott Bjork, Dean Bergseng, Rodney Gilles, Bill Schroeder and Mel Pittman.

“I want you to come back in 2021 and make sure we have the best fair ever,” Board Chair Jeff Holst said to Fair Director Ann Webb at the close of the vote.