By Dave Baumeister, County Correspondent
SIOUX FALLS – On Tuesday, Aug. 4, for the second week in a row, Sioux Empire Fair manager Scott Wick spoke to the Minnehaha County Commission.
Since the fair began Saturday, Aug. 1, Wick was able to specifically talk about how sanitation and distancing measures were working during this year’s fair.
After taking a pony ride or visiting an A-1 porta-potty, people at the Sioux Empire Fair this week can take advantage of one of the many hand sanitizers dispensing stations located around the grounds. Each station has four to six dispensers, and each of those can be loaded with 1,000 doses. Overall, for the week’s events, the fair is stocked with one million sanitizer doses. (Photo by Dave Baumeister)
As he said previously, some events were cancelled, and others limited, but at this meeting, he could talk about what fairgoers were doing, as opposed to just what was expected.
Wick reported that while attendance was down overall in the first three days, there was more traffic during earlier hours, which helped limit crowds during the usual busy evening hours.
Wick described the two grandstand concerts, Hairball on Sunday, Aug. 2, and Big and Rich on Monday Aug. 3, as having plenty of room for people to distance themselves from others.
He added that people would “pod-up,” presumably with others they knew, but then, he added others would leave space between groups.
Revin’ on the red line
Doug Johnson, the general manager of the new Huset’s Speedway in Brandon, was before commissioners to get approval for 10 special malt beverage licenses at the track.
And while that was his goal, most of the questions asked were about general operations there.
Some commissioners commented on how happy they were to see the track back in action, but, being concerned for county residents, they asked about protective measures at the raceway.
Johnson explained that at their inaugural event on Sunday, Aug. 2, they limited ticket sales for the 9,000-seat venue and opened up the infield for seating, which allowed for more distancing in the grandstand.
Commissioner Gerald Beninga, who mentioned comments he received, had questions for Johnson about the planned hours for Huset’s.
Although Sunday’s race and fireworks lasted until 11:30 p.m., Johnson said that accidents on the track caused the event to run longer than anticipated.
To deal with that in the future, he said they will plan to start events earlier.
In answer to Beninga’s question, Johnson added, “It is our goal to finish up no later than 10:30.”
After all the questions for Johnson, no one spoke in opposition, and the 10 licenses were approved on a 4-0 vote. (Commission chairperson Jean Bender was absent and vice-chair Dean Karsky led the meeting.)
Re-zoning
Commissioners also set Tuesday, Aug. 25, as a public hearing for re-zoning land by Midway Corner near the intersection of SD Highway 115 and 254th Street.
The Minnehaha County Commission meets every Tuesday at 9 a.m. on the second floor of the county administration building at 6th and Minnesota in Sioux Falls.
All meetings are open to the public, and public comment is always encouraged.
Also, those wishing to watch the meeting live can do so via the Internet at www.minnehahacounty.org/live.
