Personnel issues listed as cause for executive session

McCOOK, Neb. — The Red Willow County Fair Board went into closed session towards the end of last week’s regularly scheduled meeting. The reasoning for the closed session was unclear at the time of the motion, although, the meeting agenda indicated it would be to discuss personnel.

Upon coming to the final item on Wednesday’s agenda, “Executive session to discuss personnel,” Board President Bob Logan asked, “Do you want an executive session to discuss anything?”

Fair Board Manager Deb Lafferty added, “I always put that executive session in case somebody ever wants to call one.”

Board member Wayne Watkins subsequently indicated he wanted to call an executive session.

“Yeah, I think we need to have an executive session. That means the Gazettes outta here, right? Does that mean commissioner you get to stay, or not?” said Watkins, referring to Red Willow County Commissioner Earl McNutt who was in attendance.

“Your call,” replied McNutt, prompting Watkins to say McNutt could stay and another board member to indicate County Commissioner Steve Downer typically stayed during executive sessions called in the past.

The board subsequently entered executive session without further discussion.

McNutt and Downer swapped board assignments earlier this month with Downer now attending the Southwest Public Health Department meetings and McNutt attending Red Willow County Fair Board meetings.

According to open meetings act information handed out at the start of Wednesday’s meeting, state law provides that any public body may hold a closed session if it is clearly necessary “(1) for the protection of the public interest, or (2) for the prevention of needless injury to an individual, if such individual has not requested a public meeting.”

In 2006 LB 898 amended provisions pertaining to the mechanics of holding a closed session, requiring the subject matter of the closed session and reason necessitating the closed session to be identified in the motion to hold a closed session.

The public body holding a closed session shall restrict its consideration of matters during the closed session to only those purposes set forth in the motion to close as the reason for the closed session. The meeting must be reconvened in open session before any formal action may be taken.

The Red Willow County Fair Board has nine members; Don Klein, Wayne Watkins, Shawn Smith, Chas Fritsche, Bob Logan, Garrett Rippen and Deb Korte of McCook; Kalli Nelms of Indianola and Jo Teter of Bartley, according to the fair website.