Preble County Fairground Issue Heats Up Again Commissioner David Wesler spoke the words “..that there may never be another Pork Festival in this county again.” Commission President Robert Stonecash replied: people have told me that they have had discussions with Darke County. "Anybody in Preble County that would make that threat to move something out of Preble County to another county is way out of line. They are not thinking of Preble County first. They are thinking of themselves". On a day the commission agenda showed no meetings time was pretty much dominated by the ongoing Pork Festival – Agricultural Society issue. Tensions were further heightened with the reading into the record of a letter sent by the Pork Festival attorney to the Ag Society. In addition to the six points of concern listed in the letter was a threat to lock up the Expo building and not allow the Ag Society use until written requests are made with proper accompanying documents for future events. The letter included a suggestion that the “Society” remove dirt from the Expo Building before February 6, 2010. The Ag Society has a tractor pull scheduled that is the latest round of contention over reasonable use of the $750,000 building that had a $90,000 concrete floor put in before the last Pork Fest. As a possible sign of frustration over the continuing dispute County Commissioner Bob Stonecash even raised the possibility of selling the fairgrounds. The County Commissioners hold title to the property for the people of Preble County. Katie Worthington was called into chambers for discussion on what legal power the commissioners have over the Fairgrounds. At least some Pork Festival leaders have concerns over planned use of the Expo Building for upcoming tractor pulls. The problems appear to go back much further with the current round having started over the condition of the Expo Building prior to the 2009 Pork Fest. The Preble County Commissioners also voiced concerns over the management of the Preble County Fairgrounds. Among concerns noted was oil from tractor pulls being drained onto the ground at the property, running faucets, outdoor lighting left on for lack of replacement of photo cells, doors off of hinges, locks on buildings that did not work, vents at the Expo building and the general lack of even paint for appearance. Discussion of hiring an event manager to handle the bookings for the property and dealings with both the Ag Society and the Pork Fest was also a topic. Among other issues apparent is the prospect that not all of either the Pork Fest Board members or the Ag Society members may be fully aware of not only the issues faced or the conduct of others on their own respective committees. Referenced from the Ohio Revised Code were the following: ORC 1711-15 ORC 1711.31 Also referenced and provided here was the Lease Agreement signed February 23, 2005, between The Preble County Pork Festival Inc. and The Preble County Agricultural Society and The Preble County Board of County Commissioners. The eight page lease agreement is available in .pdf here: LEASE AGREEMENT This was a two hour meeting and due to the importance of the issue I have attempted to transcr
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