There has been a lot of talk and rumors this week about the mention in the local paper of a letter (email) sent by the AG Society to the Preble County Commission. The letter details issues that have been recurring topics for years. There are sections of Ohio Revised Code (ORC) that detail many of underlying issues of control with regard to property, insurance and who should get what funds.  My view is that ORC favors the position of the AG Society.

As with many issues there is an intertwining with other issues that call into question positions taken or not taken by the County Commission, the Preble County Development Partnership and the fundamental reason for the existence of the County CVB and tax levied for it.

The bottom line is that it is a big expense operating the Fairgrounds. Adding buildings or shells of buildings only makes the expense problem worse as they need maintained. 

The biggest draw of outside visitors and the money they bring to Preble County is the Preble County Fairgrounds and there is not a close second.  Anyone that tells you different or that “the CVB is rolling” needs to pull their head out of their ass. 

For most of the last two decades there have been three major yearly events drawing multi night stays by visitors to Preble County and all three are or were held at the Preble County Fairgrounds. The Expo rents at $1,000 a day and for years has had requests for bathroom and shower facilities. The Ft. St.Clair Dog Show left for Montgomery County and claimed problems at the Expo.  Had there not been an anonymous donation of $90,000 a few years ago to pay for sheep pens, the Sheep show in May might have also gone to Montgomery County. That leaves the Pork Festival.

All of those events and to lesser extent smaller events have drawn large numbers of multi night stays from visitors going to the Preble County Fairgrounds.  The county reaps sales tax from those visitors and businesses reap income to support property taxes and high landfill assessments.

Let me put it this way; Choices are made for expenses on finite income resources both at the county and the Fairgrounds.  Do you put money into a heated sidewalk at the Courthouse or apply the money to putting bathrooms and maybe showers at the Expo as renters have requested?   Someone chose the heated sidewalk.

These are examples of continued incompetence regarding the attraction of visitors to Preble County.  It makes a nice PR story and picture to attend an event in Columbus, Ohio to attract alleged visitors that no one can ever verify exist. The Fairgrounds and the AG Society do attract visitors and it can be documented.  They have always done so and their efforts have been underappreciated.  The loss of those visitors can also be documented. The sales tax rate for staying in Preble County is higher than in Richmond/Wayne County.  That was caused by action taken by the Preble County Commission.  It also limits the positive impact that the Preble County Fairgrounds can have.  Don’t let the Preble County Commission tell you they are conservative when they continue to support a tax rate higher than Richmond/Wayne County.

I side with the AG Society and thank them for all their efforts. The monies documented below should be turned over to the AG Society. Any alleged debt owed to the County Commission forgiven, a thank you note sent to the AG Society for their efforts and questions by the Commission and Preble County Development Partnership asked on what further help can be provided.

Please read the additional comments placed between the documents posted for an explanation on relevance.

This document shows there was $35,000 paid to the County Commissioners as a renewal bonus for the cell tower located on the Fairgrounds property. That money should go to the Ag Society and it is law covered by Ohio Revised Code. See ORC 1711.31

This document shows the County Commission kept $45,358.27 for an easement payment from DP&L. This money should also belong to the AG Society.

This brings the total of just these two documents and commission actions to just over $80,000 that could be applied to adding bathrooms at the Expo.   

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“….the control and management of such lands and improvements shall be vested in the board of directors of such society so long as they are occupied by it and used by it for holding agricultural fairs.”  These are simple words that mean the Ag Society runs the show on the fairgrounds including where things are put, if they are put anywhere.  The Commissioners are out of line and not abiding by the law.  

1711.24 Insurance on county society's buildings.

The board of county commissioners of a county in which there is a county agricultural society shall insure the buildings on the grounds of such society for the benefit of such society.

1711.31 Control of lands when title vested in county commissioners – division of moneys when land appropriated for another public purpose.

When the title to grounds and improvements occupied by an agricultural society is in the board of county commissioners, the control and management of such lands and improvements shall be vested in the board of directors of such society so long as they are occupied by it and used by it for holding agricultural fairs.

When the title to such grounds or improvements, or any part thereof, is appropriated for another public purpose or sold to an agency which has the power to so appropriate, if such society notifies the county commissioners of an intention to proceed under sections 1711.25 to 1711.32, inclusive, of the Revised Code, to replace such property, the moneys shall be divided between the county and the society in accordance with the respective values of the interest of each in such property, as determined by agreement of the parties or pursuant to section 163.18 of the Revised Code. Each share of such moneys shall be held by the respective party solely for use in replacement of its respective interest in such property notwithstanding any limitations on expenditures otherwise provided in Chapter 1711. of the Revised Code.

Moneys realized by the society in holding county fairs and from renting or leasing all or part of the grounds and buildings for the conduct of fairs or otherwise, over and above the necessary expenses thereof, shall be paid into the treasury of the society and used as a fund for keeping such grounds and buildings in good order and repair and for making other improvements deemed necessary by the society's directors.

Effective Date: 11-25-1969 .

This is the audio for the Wednesday, March 4, 2020, Preble County Commission meeting.  There is one .mp3 file. The size of File 1 is 29.6 mb and 1 hr. 26 minutes 26 seconds long.

The file is a copy of "THE OFFICIAL MINUTES" of the Preble County Commission.

Please take the time and listen to the audio and form your own opinion on the issues discussed.

Click "File 1" and follow along with the agenda posted below.

Preble County Commissioners

March 4, 2020

Three Commissioners in attendance

Audio begins just after 1 minute mark on cd.

CLICK TO HEAR AUDIO >>> File 1

PREBLE COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING

REGULAR SESSION

* * * * * * A G E N D A * * * * * *

MARCH 4, 2020

I. OPEN MEETING

II. CALL OF ROLL

III. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

IV. PRAYER

V. PUBLIC COMMENTS

VI. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

NOTE RECEIPT OF & CONSIDER APPROVAL BY SIGNING THE JOURNALIZATION & NOTE RECEIPT OF THE CD RECORDATION BOTH AS THE OFFICIAL MINUTES FOR THE MARCH 2, 2020 REGULAR SESSION MEETING.

VII. FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS

A. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. #186-20-191

RE: SUPPLE. APPROPRIATION – MOTOR VEHICLE & GAS TAX – ENGINEER

B. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. #187-20-191

RE: MORAL OBLIGATION – CORONER

C. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. #188-20-191

RE: AUTH. PAYMENT – CORONER ($3,200.00); DATA PROCESSING ($2,423.15)

VIII. CORRESPONDENCE & REPORTS

A. NOTE RECEIPT OF A LETTER FROM THE OHIO EPA

RE: FEB. 5, 2020 EXPLOSIVE GAS MONITOR PROBE REPORT – LANDFILL

B. NOTE RECEIPT OF A LETTER FROM JUDGE OVERMYER

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RE: WAGE RATE INCREASE – KASSIE PROFFITT – TASC

C. NOTE RECEIPT OF A COURT ENTRY FROM THE PREBLE CO. COMMON PLEAS CT.

RE: AUTHORIZATION TO HIRE OUTSIDE LEGAL COUNSEL FOR AUDITOR LAVON WRIGHT & PREBLE CO. BOARD OF REVISION

D. NOTE RECEIPT OF & CONSIDER APPROVAL OF (2) LEGAL ADS

RE: NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING #2 – CDBG CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM; NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING #2 – CDBG ALLOCATION PROGRAM

E. NOTE RECEIPT OF (7) PETITIONS FOR A ZONING REFERENDUM & FURTHER CONSIDER AUTHORIZING THE CLERK OF THE BOARD TO FORWARD TO THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS FOR CERTIFICATION

RE: ZONING CASE #1481 – BILLY & SHERYL THACKER

IX. AGREEMENTS & CONTRACTS

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

RE: GROUNDWATER MONITORING ENGINEERING SVS. FOR AGREEMENT W/ T&M ASSOC. – $10,800.00 – ENGINEER

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

RE: TEMPORARY STAFFING SVS. AGREEMENT W/ MANPOWER RICHMOND – $25,000.00 – LANDFILL

C. NOTE RECEIPT OF & CONSIDER APPROVAL BY SIGNING AN AMENDMENT

RE: AMENDMENT #3 TO THE INMATE FOOD SERVICE AGREEMENT W/ ARAMARK – $150,000.00 – SHERIFF

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

RE: MEDICAL DIRECTOR & INMATE MEDICAL SVS. AGREEMENT W/ DR. HAROLD FERGUSON, JR. – $15,200.00 – SHERIFF

X. TRAVEL

CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE FOLLOWING REQUESTS:

A. RES. #189-20-191 – DENISE ROBERTSON, CHRIS DAY & RODNEY CREECH – COMMISSION

B. RES. #190-20-191 – DENISE ROBERTSON, CHRIS DAY & RODNEY CREECH – COMMISSION

C. RES. #191-20-191 – SANDRA GREEN, DAWN ROBERTS & NATALIE MAYNARD – CSEA

D. RES. #192-20-191 – ABIGAIL TAYLOR – JFS

E. RES. #193-20-191 – ERIN HARRIS & CHASITY ALVAREZ – JFS

XI. MEETINGS

9:30 A.M. – PUBLIC HEARINGS – ZONING CASE #1499 – ROBERT M. HALDERMAN

– ZONING CASE #1500 – MARLON EVANS & LOIS EVANS

10:30 A.M. – ERIC MARIT – PCSD #6

10:45 A.M. – TOUR OF PROPOSED CDBG PROJECT SITES

12:00 P.M. (APPROX.) – RECESS FOR LUNCH

XII. ADDITIONAL ITEMS

XIII. ADJOURN