(1) As provided in this section and ORS § 565.268 and 565.271, a county court may abolish the county fair board appointed under ORS § 565.210.

(2) A county court may initiate proceedings to abolish the county fair board by issuing an order creating a county fair advisory committee with six members who shall all be residents of the county. Upon issuance of the order under this subsection, the county court shall appoint three members to the advisory committee and the county fair board shall appoint three members. The advisory committee shall consider the relevant issues and make recommendations concerning the abolition of the county fair board and, if abolition is recommended, the future operation of the county fair by either a fair association or a fair district. If a majority of the advisory committee agrees that abolishing the county fair board is in the best interests of the residents of the county, the advisory committee shall recommend abolition of the county fair board. If the advisory committee recommends abolition of the county fair board, the county court and the county fair board may meet to consult and negotiate concerning the future operation of the county fair and fairgrounds. If the county court and the county fair board agree that it is in the best interests of the residents of the county to have a fair association or fair district replace the county fair board, the county court may adopt a resolution that expresses the intention of the county court to abolish the county fair board, sets forth the reasons for the intended action, states that either a fair association or a fair district will replace the county fair board and declares that the abolition of the county fair board is in the best interests of the residents of the county.

(3) A resolution adopted by a county court under subsection (2) of this section must be accompanied by a resolution adopted by the county fair board that acknowledges the proposed action of the county court and declares that abolition of the county fair board is in the best interests of the residents of the county. The resolution adopted by a county fair board under this subsection must be adopted at a regular public meeting of the county fair board and filed with the county court.

(4) After adoption of the resolutions described in subsections (2) and (3) of this section, the county court shall conduct a public hearing concerning the abolition of the county fair board at which testimony of interested persons and other evidence shall be received.

(5) Notice of the public hearing required by subsection (4) of this section shall be published twice in at least two newspapers of general circulation in the county. The first notice shall be published between the 90th day and the 60th day before the hearing. The second notice shall be published between the 30th day and the 20th day before the hearing.

(6) After the public hearing required by subsection (4) of this section, the county court shall consider the testimony given and the other evidence received at the hearing. If the county court determines that abolishing the county fair board is in the best interests of the residents of the county, the county court shall issue an order abolishing the county fair board and authorizing either the creation of a fair district or an agreement with a fair association for the purpose of managing and operating the county fair. The abolition of the county fair board shall be effective on the date specified in the order. [1999 c.681 § 3; 2003 c.101 § 1]