North Dakota County Fair Ride Oversight Lacking

Cass County, N.D., hasn’t maintained the oversight mandated by the state to ensure carnival rides at the Red River Valley Fair have been properly inspected.

But fair and county officials say there’s no reason to think any of the rides at this year’s fair are unsafe, because the company running them inspects every ride before opening each day.

State law requires ride operators to file with the county an affidavit that each ride has adequate insurance and has been inspected by the insurance underwriter. Murphy Brothers Exposition spokeswoman Cathy Murphy tells The Forum the inspection papers are available but no one has ever asked for them.

Fair General Manager Bryan Schulz says the question of oversight won’t disrupt this year’s fair but will need to be addressed after it concludes.