The organizers of some of Indiana's county fairs and small festivals built around everything from covered bridges to maple syrup are anxiously awaiting new state rules for the type of stage rigging involved in last summer's deadly State Fair stage collapse.
A state commission is expected to discuss and possibly vote next week on approval of the temporary rules. They're required under a new state law prompted by the Aug. 13 accident that killed seven people.
Gale Gerber of the Indiana State Festivals Association says uncertainty over the rules is creating concern among local event planners over whether the regulations could bring additional costs for them.
He says some of the 450 Indiana festivals and fairs held each year operate on shoestring budgets and can't absorb higher costs.
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