One-Year Fairgrounds Ban Upheld for Lee Ann Literal

DAYTON—On a 2-1 vote, the Board of Columbia County Commissioners on Monday upheld a one-year ban from the Columbia County Fairgrounds for Dayton resident Lee Ann Literal, following an administrative hearing.

Literal appeared at the hearing with her attorney, Mona Geidl, to address the county’s assertion that she was consuming alcohol during a celebration of life memorial service at the fairgrounds on July 21.

County Facilities Maintenance Director Dave Finney imposed the ban on July 23 after two incidents in which Finney claimed Literal was in violation of fairgrounds rules of use.

On July 5, Literal was cited for hit-and-run after she rolled her vehicle into a set of bleachers outside a barn at the fairgrounds. After consulting with Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Dale Slack, Finney drafted a first offense citation and warning letter to her.

Literal is scheduled to appear in Columbia County District Court on Oct. 16 for a hearing on the hit-and-run charge.

On July 21, Finney reported that he saw Literal in possession of a beer on fairgrounds property, at the conclusion of the memorial service. He also claimed in his report that Literal appeared to be intoxicated at that time.

During the hearing, Literal strongly denied both claims. Several others testified on her behalf that she had not been drinking.

Literal said she received a letter from Finney on July 23 saying he saw her in possession of and consuming alcohol at the fairgrounds. The letter went on to say she had already received one warning for the bleacher incident, and he was notifying her she would be suspended from the fairgrounds for the duration of one year, and that she had 48 hours to vacate the premises.

After Monday’s hearing, Literal said she will definitely file an appeal.