Georgia National Fairgrounds board discusses response to state report

PERRY -- The authority that oversees the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter will soon respond to a state report that questioned personnel policies at the facility.

Members of the Georgia Agriculture Exposition Authority met behind closed doors Wednesday to discuss personnel matters. Afterwards, Vice Chairman Foster Rhodes said the primary topic of discussion in the closed meeting was the authority's response to the findings of the Office of State Inspector General.

Rhodes declined to say what the response will entail, but he said he expects it will be written and sent within 10 days.

He also said there will no personnel actions as a result of the state's report, but the authority will be working with the state on its policies.

"Obviously when something like this happens, you review your policies and see if they coincide with state policies and that's the direction we will get into with the IG office," he said.

In January, the inspector general released a report that raised questions about some personnel practices while Ransom Moore served as executive director of the fairgrounds.

One of those was cash payments to employees in lieu of time off for overtime, which is a policy the authority approved at Moore's request. But the state investigation said that violated budget rules. The report also concluded that Moore hired Stacy Campbell, the fairground's top marketer and spokeswoman, without interviewing anyone else.

Moore resigned in December.

Rhodes said after the meeting that 23 people have applied for the executive director's position. He expects that will be narrowed to about eight, and then those candidates will be interviewed. He said he hopes a decision will be made by May.

James Floyd is serving as interim director.

To contact writer Wayne Crenshaw, 256-9725.

This story was originally published February 10, 2016 at 5:04 PM with the headline "Georgia National Fairgrounds board discusses response to state report ."