SIDNEY, NE — Citing liability and security concerns as well as timing, the Cheyenne County Commissioners turned down a request to use buildings at the fairgrounds for a gun show.

The request from Skip Fricke of High Plains Shooters Supply was denied 2-1. He had hoped to use the facility on January 15-16.

Cheyenne County Sheriff Adam Frerichs had concerns Fricke was hoping to spend the night at the fairgrounds as an added security measure.

"I guess that's where I would like to have a conversation as far as holding and detaining, I would not be comfortable with that," Frerichs said. "Call 911, be the best witness you can be and leave it at that."

After some discussion, Frerichs did say he felt his concerns had been addressed and he felt comfortable with the event going forward.

County Attorney Paul Schaub brought forward concerns of liability. He says the Nebraska Risk Management Agency (NRMA) typically frowns on using county buildings for non-county events. Cheyenne County has done that in the past, but after officials took the time to come to a formal agreement with event runners.

"We've got the cart before the horse," Schaub said. "If we are to proceed with something like this we need formal approval from NRMA as well as the appropriate forms for both parties to sign."

Fricke was not in town and called in to the meeting. He expressed disappointment at the result, saying he had already put some things in motion for the show.

Fricke said he had started the process of booking the venue last March, but according to the commissioners that wasn’t the case.

"We as the board of commissioner have not waited to the last minute," Commissioner Randal Miller said. "When [Fricke] contacted [building superintendent] Tom Payne last March, you did not ask to book the facility. You only inquired about the facility. The delay is all on your part, not ours."

With not enough time to figure out a  formal agreement, the proposal failed.

"If there's any liability involved at all with the county, I'm just not in favor of it," Commissioner Phiip Sanders said. "That's how I feel."

Fricke says his company puts on three other shows in Nebraska every year. This would’ve been the first in Sidney.