This meeting opens with Amanda Dalton in commission chambers to voice support for the bed tax and Shawnda Combs. Amanda feels that local hotels and motels should charge their customers an additional tax to help finance the marketing of Heaven’s Corner Zoo.  Commissioner Wesler mentions the potential being almost endless with regard to lodging tax.  Commissioner Stonecash follows with some comments that are transcribed below but if you have time listen to the audio. I received an email the morning of June 17, from Amanda at my information@destinationpreble.com  email account that had been sent 6/16/2011 10:37 PM. It was posted shortly after I was able to get the webwork done and not long after being received. It was posted on both www.citizensforpreblecounty.com and www.destinationpreble.com. Amanda has sent previous emails asking for promotion of the zoo and that information has been posted on both websites. A review of the Heaven's Corner website will show zero mention of any local hotels, motels or B&Bs. Also mentioned by Commissioner Stonecash was the Preble County Historical Society and a check of that organizations website shows zero mention of any local hotels, motels or B&Bs.

File 3 & 4 have an extended meeting with the fair board and if you have any interest in this topic it is best to take the time and listen to the meeting as it is very informative as to current issues. This meeting is not kind to OSU Extension with regard to the current situation..

File 6 closes the meeting as the Commissioners are apparently in a hurry to fly off to Kentucky to visit the gas to energy plant previously mentioned to be across Rt. 127 from the landfill and close to the railroad. This is an area that would have been served by the leachate line that this Commission sent to Lakengren.

There is a short conversation started by Commissioner Stonecash on the transient tax and he mentions an unnamed former Preble County Commissioner and also an unnamed motel owner. The discussion was to continue in the afternoon after their return from Kentucky. This meeting was then recessed and never adjourned.

Preble County, Ohio

County Commissioners

June 15, 2011

Three Commissioners in attendance

File 1

I. OPEN MEETING

II. CALL OF ROLL

III. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

IV. PRAYER

V. APPROVAL MINUTES

NOTE RECEIPT & CONSIDER APPROVAL BY SIGNING THE JOURNALIZATION & NOTE RECEIPT OF THE CD RECORDATION BOTH AS THE OFFICIAL MINUTES FOR THE JUNE 13th REGULAR SESSION MEETING

End 4.06 minute mark on CD – 964 KB

File 2

VI. PUBLIC COMMENTS

Amanda Dalton from Heaven's Corner on struggle to market zoo. Attendance up 50% this year. In chamber to support bed tax.

More fans on Facebook than Boonshoft Museum in Dayton. Very supportive of Shawnda Combs. People telling her they are picking up info on the zoo at the airport but she (Amanda) has not put any out at the airport. People asking where can we eat and where can we shop at around here.

Commissioner Wesler on potential being almost endless with regard to lodging tax.

Commissioner Stonecash – You are saying the transient tax or bed tax and that money would go through a convention and visitors' bureau would be of great benefit to your business and to the Historical Society. To tell people all across the nation that Preble County is open for business and it is a definite benefit to all businesses in Preble County to bring people to our county.

Amanda – The trickledown effect would be amazing. I am so excited I mean everything is converging right now there is so much potential that Preble County has for an explosion of business.  Ahh I mean start buying real estate by zoo because if things take off it is going to be big.

12 Minute mark   Commissioner Stonecash – The other thing that would help is if the 2,4,6,7 people sitting here from the Fair would also help publicize the Preble County Fair.

Amanda – Oh yeah, I want to tell people when they visit the zoo come back to Preble County again for our Fairs, our, festivals we have a great things to offer. I think we should all be supportive as we can of any growth.

Commissioner Wesler – Thanks Amanda, I appreciate you coming in. Ok with that we have got the Ag Society here for Fair Ground operations.

12.6 minute mark on cd  

8.35 minutes – 1.96 MB

File 3

PREBLE COUNTY FAIRBOARD – FAIRGROUNDS OPERATIONS

Commissioner Wesler – I received a call two weeks ago and I made two phone calls to Duane and Rodney about the reason for this and the timeliness of this. Quite frankly after last year after we had gone ahead and mowed the Fairgrounds before the Ag or before the Pork Festival. Shortly after that we had a lawsuit and we have not been able to talk and still can't about the lawsuit….. Katie Worthington said you have to have dialog with the Ag Society.

Dave on how cold it was for his Kiwanis Club swap meet earlier this year.

Insurance policies mentioned as needing to be consistent.

17 Minute mark    Commissioner Stonecash – on wanting the Fairgrounds to be clean. He looks forward to the Fair every year.

Commissioner Day – On wanting the site presentable.

This meeting will go on for a while so please take the time and listen.

19 Minute mark  Duane Grimme – Manager of the Fairgrounds for Ag Society.

Rentals for 2010 amounted to $121,900.

Through the 14th of June our rentals this year have been $93,500.

They have not changed the Fairground rental events.

Last year over $20,000 was spent on new goat pens. Over half came from the YES Fund.

Dog show generated $5,000

May Sheep show generated $11,000. included in that is electric.

A couple big events being worked on for next year.

A new copy machine was purchased. Savings of $60 a month.

Fair book can now be put together in house and sent to printer.

Remodeled Junior Fair Office.

Historical Society is working with the Ag Society this year at the Fair.

28.25 Minute mark   Junior Fair situation. "February it got dumped lock stock and barrel into the Senior Fair Board's hands."

Costs incurred:

Labor cost increased about $10,000.

Paper cost $1000

Another roll over line needed and upgrades to phone system put at $2,500.

Upgrade of computer system.

One bid for upgrade and Junior Fair portion put at $3,200

Office equipment – Five cabinets – $500

Miscellaneous supplies – $1,000

Unknown – no idea, can't get numbers from OSU Extension.

Taken over control of three bank accounts.

One account had over $17,000 in it when the Ag Society took it over.

OSU Extension had told them they did not have any money and Ag Society spent over $23,000 on Junior Fair.

It is well-known erection-boosting medicine, which helps a person to get over their deeprootsmag.org purchase cialis online problem of erectile dysfunction.

Two sale accounts.

Big weekend on July 1 – 3 with "Smoke Out"

Questions:

Possibility of Commissioners supporting them attempt to get temporary liquor license. Generate additional funds for Fairgrounds. Would not be used Fair week.

40 Minute mark  Asks about reduced dumping rates at landfill for Fair week.

Last year the Ag Society spent about $7,600 for trash

Asks if Commissioners will help to fund the Junior Fair expense.

42 Minute mark   Commissioner Wesler  – ..I want to go back to talking about OSU Extension…. has spoken to Dr. Wright about concerns….

46 Minute mark   Commissioner Stonecash

50 minute mark on cd  

37.28 minutes – 8.57 MB

File 4

Pat Taylor – says he will take only 30 seconds. (Commissioners headed to Kentucky).

Chronic financial problems for decades.

Would love to wave magic wand and make fairgrounds look better

Commissioner Wesler congratulates on having more contracts at Fairgrounds.

comments on OSU Extension

Commissioner Day – On no control for money. Asks how much guidance they are getting

Duane Grimme – On limited help from local Extension office.

55.5 Minute mark   Commissioner Stonecash asks how soon they need a response on the alcohol sales?

Duane Grimme – …as soon as you could give it to me Bob. ….Yesterday would have been better.

Today there is $19,000 in the Junior Fair activity account.

Have money in Columbus that cannot be touched.

Fair in five weeks.

1 hr. .5 Minute mark  Commissioner Stonecash – Do you utilize our economic development office?

Duane Grimme – I wouldn't even know the gal if she walked in here.

Commissioner Stonecash – Her name is Shawnda

Duane Grimme – Well it looks like to me she ought to be contacting us.  I agree

Commissioner Stonecash – I am sure in time she will but she contacting everybody in Preble County. If indeed you are interested all you got to do is stop over there or call her because she is out a lot.

Commissioner Wesler – Duane, I already told her I would make the contact with you because just like Amanda said with the tourism component here. Ahh the Fairgrounds should be and I know tries to be active 50 weeks out of the year at least. And ahh I remember the Farm Bureau Camp-ins down there, stuff like that. We need more of those events to come back so Shawnda did say she wants to talk to you. So Bob she will be.

Duane Grimme – One thing that I didn't mention was on the last Saturday of June, that is when the Junior Fair Board has their Covered Bridge Bike deal and Farm Bureau also that day they are having a tractor ride of three or four of the covered bridges in the county. The staging area is going to be the Fairgrounds. That is the reason we are having a Sunday clean-up because on Saturday we've got both of those in there. We've got printing of rabbits and blood testing of chickens on Saturday. So we felt that there was too much going on, so that is the reason we are doing it Sunday.

Commissioner Stonecash asks what day.

June 26.

1 hr. 4 minute mark on cd  

14.05 minutes – 3.22 MB

File 5

After meeting conversations going on. (More than one going on at same time)

1 hr. 8 minute mark on cd  

4 minutes – 954 KB

File 6

Commissioner Wesler – Ok, moving on.

CORRESPONDENCE & REPORTS

A. NOTE RECEIPT OF & CONSIDER APPROVAL OF AN ADDENDUM

RE: ADDENDUM #1 TO VILLAGE OF ELDORADO WWTP ALTERATIONS – PHASE I – CONTRACT B BID SPECS AND BID FORM

AGREEMENTS & CONTRACTS

A. NOTE RECEIPT OF & CONSIDER APPROVAL BY SIGNING AN AGREEMENT

RE: CUSTOMER SERVICE SUPPORT AGREEMENT W/ HENSCHEN & ASSOCIATES- $1,500.00 EACH – COURT COMPUTERIZATION – PROBATE & LEGAL RESEARCH -PROBATE

Connie – Voucher 4806 payment to Department of Health for Sean Good's compensation in the amount of $900 from JFS.

Commissioner Stonecash – We need to talk about this transient tax.

Commissioner Wesler – And you want to do that this afternoon? Commissioners leaving to fly to Kentucky for gas to energy plant inspection.

Commissioner Stonecash –  If we get back this afternoon. We are all three aware of what is going on so.

Commissioner Wesler – Well then ahh

Commissioner Stonecash –  Unless you guys wish to throw it up to fate as to what happens. What time do you expect to be back this afternoon.

Commissioner Wesler – I don't know.

Commissioner Stonecash – We have people with in Preble County that wishes Preble County to stay as it is and one of them is a former Commissioner and one of them is a motel owner. It's the time we act on things instead of prolonging them.

Commissioner Day – Obviously we don't have time to get into that discussion.

Commissioner Wesler – Ok we will just recess until we get back.

Sorry folks, they apparently did not get back to adjourn this meeting.

1 hr. 12.5 minute mark on cd  

5.09 minutes – 1.17 MB