Ramsey County commissioners set to vote on Minnesota State Fair security plan

The Minnesota State Fair kicks off in one month. On Tuesday, the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to vote on an agreement for law enforcement services at the fairgrounds.

Under that agreement, the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office will provide up to 200 law enforcement officers per day.

The State Fair will pay the county $80 an hour per employee, except on Labor Day, when it will pay $100 an hour.

Law enforcement officers will wear body cameras.

It’s estimated the State Fair will pay Ramsey County about $1.6 million to use its deputies.

The fair will be responsible for security screening at gates, including metal detectors and bag checks.

Security at the fair had been up in the air since the State Fair police chief retired in May. Last month, County Manager Ryan O’Connor told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS he was "optimistic" an agreement would be reached.

Allison Schaber, President of Ramsey County Deputies’ Federation told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS, "The Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office will get paid $80/hr for each deputy working the fair, while the deputy will actually only make their regular wage, in some cases that’s only $27.95/hr. The remaining $52 goes to the County and the department, not the deputy."