County to restrict use of fairgrounds

Citing concerns of the county sponsoring competition against local businesses, Commissioner Patrick Woodie suggested the county vote to disallow visiting retailers use of the Emerson Black Exhibition building.

The commissioners have heard complaints from local merchants about two groups that sometimes hold temporary sales at the fairgrounds, one which offers tools and the other which offers clothing. Woodie said he has a problem with the "use of the fairgrounds by private, profit-making businesses."

He noted these entities are in competition with local merchants. "It is not good policy that it be used for private, profit making business ventures," he said.

Woodie also complained that the commissioners had already addressed the issue at an earlier meeting and requested that the Alleghany Fairgrounds Inc. board not allow this type of venture access to the fairgrounds. However, the commissioners did not vote to incorporate the change into the fairgrounds use policy or take any formal action at that time.

"It was conveyed to the fairgrounds board that that type of activity not occur there," he said. "This board needs to go on record that this is not a permissible use of the fairgrounds. I would like to make a motion that, starting now, we create a policy that the fairgrounds not be used for private, for profit events."

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