PORT ANGELES — Clallam County has hired Gold Buckle Rodeo Co. to provide the thrills and spills for the annual rodeo at the county fair.
County commissioners Tuesday unanimously approved a $9,600 contract with the Roosevelt-based stock contractor.
The Clallam County Fair is set to begin Thursday, with rodeo competition slated for 5 p.m. Saturday and noon Sunday at the Grandstand Arena at the fairgrounds in west Port Angeles.
Gold Buckle, which has provided the stock and personnel for past Clallam County rodeos, submitted the lowest of two bids received for this year’s event.
“We’re very happy with the show they put on,” said Joel Winborn, county parks, fair and facilities manager, in a commissioners’ work session Monday.
Another $5,500 in prize money will be available for contestants.
Winborn said he expected more contestants than usual this year because a competing rodeo will not occur this weekend.
Invasive knotweed
In other news from Tuesday’s board meeting, a motion to approve an agreement with the state Department of Agriculture to control invasive knotweed species along rivers and streams in Clallam and Jefferson counties died for a lack of a second.
Commissioner Mike Chapman would not second Commissioner Bill Peach’s motion to approve the agreement because it included the limited use of herbicides.
“At this point, I can’t support that,” Chapman said.
Commissioner Jim McEntire was absent Tuesday because he was participating in a state Board of Natural Resources meeting in Olympia.
Chapman was sympathetic with scores of public speakers who objected May 19 to a proposed county ordinance to allow herbicides as one method to fight noxious weeds.
With the help of a consultant, the county is developing the framework for an annual noxious weed management plan that may or may not include spot spraying of herbicides.
The agreement with the state Department of Agriculture will be considered by the full board in a future meeting.
No bids for kiosk
Meanwhile, the county received no bids for a long-proposed kiosk and interpretive center overlooking the Elwha River off state Highway 112 at Lower Dam Road west of Port Angeles.
The project went out to bid last year, but the specifications were changed because the bids came in too high.
Commissioners referred the item to the Public Works Department for a recommendation on how to proceed.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
