With 2021 a record year for the Washington County Fair and its 4-H affiliate, the association wants to maintain its momentum in 2022 especially with a $120,000 entertainment budget. Even more, the organization seeks no increase in funding, holding to the same $41,000 the county has provided, the supervisors were told on Tuesday, January 18.

Part of the 2021 success, said officials, is undoubtedly related to not having a fair in 2020 and “people just wanted to get out and do things.” Even more, the Washington fair, which has consistently been among the top ten (and often, top five) in the state was able to get a full entertainment and vendor slate. Even more, 2021 saw the opening of the new cattle barn that had the cattle show all under one roof. John Lighter of the fair board stressed “there were no weather problems” which likely aided in the record attendance.

Although the 4-H had slightly fewer projects, its total of 1,767 for all levels, was less than a quarter down from the 2019 record of 2,300. Plans already are underway for a full fair this summer that will include the well-known rattlesnake show from the State of Texas. Despite price increases at many service levels, the week-long pass for all fair events in 2022 will remain at $25.

The officials outlined some further plans to add to facilities and entertainment, noting that the fair week runs in competition with 39 others in the state. In terms of facilities, the presence of the community theater budding on the fairgrounds has been a “great asset” and will again be the site of the fair queen contest, an event that usually draws a more-than-full house.

The board received reports and funding requests from the following:

• PAWS & More, which provides animal services to the county, also had “a pretty good year” in 2021, handling 859 animals with near record adoption numbers for dogs and cats. Turnaround time from being at Paws to finding a new home averaged two to three weeks for dogs and almost a month for cats and kittens. The facility also, thanks to a private donor, made a type of four-seasons room to its building, creating a private space for potential adopters to “get acquainted” with an animal.

Also faced with increased costs, PAWS boarding costs will go from $18 to $20 per day, the first increase in three years. In 2021, 241 animals were picked up in the county itself for the seven-day state required hold time, which would be $33,740. Additionally, there were 11 calls for pickup services, at $60 per call, frequently involving multiple animals. The charge is per call, not per animal;

• the East Central Iowa Housing Trust, which serves Washington, Benton, Iowa and Jones counties, also seeks a slight raise from all four with Washington County’s share at $15,000. The local 10% matching funds allow leveraging for state funds  to benefit low to moderate income property owners to repair, obtain and maintain their property.  The Fund is the only one of its kind available to the counties.

Last year’s $3,200 county allocation resulted in $322,160 in housing aid to seven county households, including one that was below 30% of the low to moderate income requirement, a rarity, which provided for a water heater and repairs;

•the Kalona-based English River Watershed Management Authority (ERWMA) requested the same amount it has since the ERWSMA was formed 13 years ago, $10,000. The ERWMA deals with flood mitigation, water quality and soil erosion efforts along the more than 600 mile English River watershed from Riverside to Grinnell. It has been the administrative facilitator for a $100 million HUD grant that involves multiple efforts along the watershed with conclusion of the year’s-long work due at the end of June, 2022.  Many of them are in Iowa and Poweshiek counties.

The 403 projects have ranged from wetlands, flood mitigation, prairie restoration and currently a lake restoration in Iowa County. Nearly all of the ERWMA work involves partnering with local landowners along the river, “which is 100 percent voluntary,” said Ryan Schlabaugh, board chairman. The work in Washington County has concentrated on water quality. He said 2021 “was a really good year” for the grass roots for the projects. The ERWMA will continue to seek both state and federal grants, he added;

In other business, the board acknowledged the purchase of a 2022 Caterpillar motor road grader for $336,000 replacing the 2009 $207,000 unit that will be sold at auction. The price for the new unit is about $80,000 higher than a little more than a year ago, said the county engineer.  He added that delivery “could be within eight months or longer, depending on how things go.”  The auction fee for the old unit will be used to offset the price of the new.