County still seeking fair financing answers

SANDPOINT — Over a year has passed since the passing of former Bonner County fair manager Darcey Smith and the community still has a plethora of questions on what really happened in the months leading up to her death.

In 2022, the former fair manager died by suicide after being accused of stealing funds from the fairgrounds. An investigation was launched in 2023, but many are saying the findings of the investigation are inconclusive and provide no proof of anyone’s guilt.

Bonner County resident Amy Lunsford said she has been coming to Bonner County commissioners’ meetings for months requesting more information regarding the alleged missing fair funds. However, her questions have gone unanswered, she said.

“Now, we are told there are no [fair board financial] records,” she said.

While many residents have called for an audit of those fair records going as far back as 2013, commissioners have said it is impossible to audit something that doesn’t exist.

Lunsford said she understands why the commissioners have taken the stance of not wanting to waste taxpayer money to conduct an audit on potentially nonexistent records. However, she said that stance does not provide county residents with the answers they seek — and deserve.

“Apparently, running the fairgrounds on bank statements alone has worked for many years,” she said.

Over the past few months, tension between the Bonner County Fair Board and Bonner County officials has risen exponentially. Lunsford said she’s happy to see the two sides now working together for a more peaceful future, but that is not enough.

“That doesn’t excuse the fact that several employees and some volunteer whistleblowers accused Ms. Smith and possibly bullied her until her passing,” she said. “Considering all the new information, I believe that the prosecuting attorney’s office and the sheriff need to issue an apology as big and bold as the accusations they made against her.

“All this shaming of Ms. Smith was over a belt buckle and new boots. Or was this a smear campaign cooked up by someone who wanted Darcey gone and then was supported by [Louis] Marshall and [Daryl] Wheeler?”

Smith’s twin sister, Dana Sanchez, also spoke during the meeting, demanding justice for her sister. Sanchez asked how the fair board was allowed to not keep any financial books for over 10 years without repercussion.

“My twin sister lost her life over this hostile work environment,” she said. “She died either of a suicide or a homicide, that’s still not clear. Her character was shamed in a questionable [investigation] and now statements are made that they had no bookkeeping. Personally, I want justice for my twin sister. I want her name cleared.”

Commissioner Luke Omodt gave Sanchez his deepest condolences on behalf of the board.

“Darcey was a valued member of Bonner County,” he said. “I know that she is very, very greatly missed.”

However, an investigation into those records — which still may not exist — would cost the county’s taxpayers more money than Omodt said he is willing to spend. An audit for the fair board for just the past fiscal year is expected to cost the county roughly $20,000, on top of the regular county audit which costs around $50,000.

Attempting to audit the last 10 years of the fair board’s books, Omodt said, would cost the taxpayers almost $250,000.

“So $250,000, looking backwards, is money that this commissioner at this time is not prepared to spend with this information that we have before us,” he said.

While some accused Omodt of hiding something because he doesn’t want to order a 10-year audit on the fair board, others believe it’s the right thing to do, especially since it remains unclear how many, if any, financial documents still exist for the board.

“While I can understand everyone wants answers to what happened and we all want to know where the ‘alleged’ missing money is, an audit is not a rational, reasonable expectation,” said Jacque Guinan in a Facebook post. “Why? Because the fair board has adamantly stated that there are no financial records to audit. You can't audit bank statements; I don't know why some people can't understand that.

“What is really obnoxious though, are these continued accusations of corruption being hurled at Commissioner Omodt with literally no evidence or proof. If you want to keep using words like ‘corruption’ and ‘libel,’ you need to put up or shut up.”