Limitations placed on camping at fairgrounds

Year-round campsites at the Cheyenne County Fairgrounds will no longer be available following a decision by county commissioners this week.

A few campers already on the premises must leave by July 1, and, as of Monday, no new campers will be allowed to rent sites.

Cheyenne County Commissioners made the unanimous decision Monday following a discussion begun last month. However, questions relating to whether the facility will be available for travelers to temporarily house horses was continued to the commissioners’ June 15 meeting.

The motion passed this week does allow camping during events at the fairgrounds, such as the annual county fair and October Fest.

In an interview last month, Cheyenne County Clerk Beth Fiegenschuh said that was how the campsites were previously operated – as an amenity for vendors and event participants – but that at some point in the past few years, they were made available year round.

A couple acts in vandalism in the past few months brought the camping facilities to commissioners’ attention.

At Monday’s meeting, Fiegenschuh began the discussion.

“We have had some people rent the campgrounds by the arena, which are full service, for long term,” she said. “They’ve become a liability as far as what we get for rent compared to the damage we’ve had to repair.”

An electric box was recently damaged and the sewer system plugged.

“The maintenance is just becoming atrocious,” commission chairman Darrell Johnson said.

There are 34 campsites at the fairgrounds – 24 have electric hookups while 10 have electric, water and sewer hookups. Prices per night range from $10-$14, depending on the site’s services.

Commissioner Philip Sanders said he didn’t want to compete with local businesses offering similar services.

“I think it should be for fair and events only,” he added

Zach Goodrich, a Cheyenne County Sheriff’s Deputy who lives at the fairgrounds as a caretaker, said most campers are respectful of the facilities.

“We’ve had very few campers, and most of those people are pretty good,” he said. “But it’s the one or two who show up for a couple days and then skip out.”

In addition to the campsites, travelers can pay to board their horses in barns. Goodrich asked if that’d still be permissible.

“I’ve never had any problems with the horses,” he said.

Sanders said he understood there are not many places for people to board their horses overnight but he was concerned about liability issues.

“I don’t think we should do it,” he said. “I want to, but I know better.”

John Jenson, Cheyenne County Sheriff, said he didn’t think prohibiting horse boarding would significantly prevent liability issues.

“I understand liability, but I don’t know by getting rid of that piece, you take all the liability away,” he said.

Jenson suggested simply not charging for horses.

County Attorney Paul Schaub said he would look into the matter and contact the Nebraska Intergovernmental Risk Management Association.

A decision on allowing horses to stay overnight in barns at the fairgrounds was tabled until the next meeting.