Restrooms closed for J.P. Hall

MEMORANDUM

TO:                  Fritz Behring

                        County Manager

FROM:           Richard J. O’Connell

                        Human and Natural Resources Director

DATE:                        Wednesday, January 02, 2008           

SUBJ.:            Investigation following complaints regarding the J.P. Hall Christmas Charity Event held at the Fairgrounds and the relationship with the North Florida Hunter Jumper Association and the Fairgrounds

______________________________________________________________________________

As a result of your tasking me to look into the subject allegations, I have spoken to the appropriate principals and submit the following:

In discussions held with Tom Price – Parks, Recreation & Special Events Division Director, Chad Holt – Fairgrounds Foreman, Jerry Hartwig- representative of Virginia Hall (J. P. Hall Christmas Charities) and Lieutenant Gail Russell – Police Officer in charge of security for the Charity, it was decided to leave the main gate open to allow people to camp overnight awaiting the event on Saturday morning. Lt. Russell had reservations about allowing overnight camping as he was hired to provide security within the confines of the gated area of the exhibit building, not the open camping area. Tom Price was also concerned about liability issues for the County with people camping out on County property. Worried that people would park on the sides of SR 16 with fog expected, swayed the group to allow the camping. Lt. Russell was given keys to the access gates and advised to use his discretion.

Last year, all three (3) bathrooms were opened but unfortunately, the bathrooms were trashed, i.e. damage ranging from paper strewn all over the floor to urine and feces on the walls. This year, only the bathroom across from the Exhibit Building was opened. It was fully stocked and opened throughout the day event which ended at 12 noon on Saturday.

Bathroom facilities are presently not available until the access gate is opened early on the event day. If the County continues to allow overnight camping, portable bathroom facilities may be an option.

Virginia Hall informed me that neither she nor her staff have received one complaint about the event. In fact, her staff reported to her that everything ran very smoothly.

The County has always been supportive of the J. P. Hall Charity Christmas event and again waived the approximate $ 400.00 electric bill for the event.

As for the North Florida Hunter Jumper Association, none in our organization has been made aware of any dissatisfaction with the facilities or the personnel working at the Fairgrounds. Phil Gibson of the NFHJA informed me that although his organization had reservations about some changes in their contract, they do not want to hold their event anywhere else. In fact, the group has donated time and money to help update the Fairgrounds facilities.