MetroPark officials outline fair changes, contract gate acts and remove lake stage for trial

Representatives from MetroPark updated the Yellowstone County commissioners on fair operations and recent conference lessons.

Stoney reported on the recent Nile event and progress on curb and grading work at MetroPark facilities. Cody, who attended the Rocky Mountain Fairs conference, described sessions on succession planning and crisis planning, and said MetroPark will contract with Source Management Group for a one‑year trial to handle gate entertainment logistics. Cody also said the lake stage will be removed on a trial basis to reallocate entertainment and reduce spending tied to low turnout at that venue.

The board congratulated MetroPark staff on recent conference recognition (election of staff to regional boards) and thanked them for the update. No funding or formal policy changes tied to the fair operations were recorded in the transcript.