SIDNEY – The Shelby County Fair Board discussed plans to replace the livestock complex, needed building repairs, as well as other topics and a new member was sworn in at their monthly meeting on Feb. 15.
Most of the meeting was spent discussing the plans to replace Livestock Complex 2. Garmann Miller provided some elevation drawings, with the main differences in the current options being the number of doors and openings, as well as how to showcase both the donor’s wall and the Platfoot Memorial. The Platfoot Memorial is used for 4H pictures during fair week.
Concerns being addressed included: keeping animal traffic separated from pedestrians, cooling during fair week, location for items being stored currently in the building, as well as use and revenue for the other 51 weeks of the year.
The building will be replacing a 35-year-old building that is no longer safe, and updated zoning requires the new building to be zoned as assembly rather than agriculture. This adds costs for safety in order to include a fire suppression system and man doors every 50 feet. Other concerns include the location of the wash rack, fitting area and scale. The scale was discussed as being a mobile unit, but this causes problems with calibration and certification.
It was brought up that if the building is to be used throughout the year, the discussion needs to reflect the entire year in how the building is designed rather than exclusive focus on a single week. The topography around the area also needs to be addressed.
The building still needs a feasibility study. At the March meeting, the Fair Board plans to have proposed renderings and floor plans, as well as estimates.
There was one committee report: the judge for the hog show has been determined and some of the hog gates have been sanded and repainted by several of the local FFA groups.
Gun raffle tickets are on sale now and are $20 each. The Fair Board has 1,000 tickets to sell for this fundraiser. Winners will be announced after all tickets are sold.
The board discussed the memorial plaque for all donors to the fair. There is a sign for donors in the secretary’s office that will be placed by the restroom during the 2023 fair. A suggestion was made that the Junior Fair Board start a memorial for youth who have died while members. There is a memorial garden for this purpose and the board is collecting names to include in the garden.
The board also discussed Jerry’s tree. A tree was donated by the Ohio Fair Managers Association (OFMA) many years ago in honor of Jerry Schaffner. The current tree is not planted and they need to look at the layout of the fairgrounds to find a good location. The current donated tree is a blue spruce, and Schaffner hated that type of tree; Weigandt Landscape Company is willing to trade it for a different tree.
There were no updates on the parking blocks or expansion of the derby pit. Those will be addressed next month.
New business included Brad Meyer replacing Dan Geise to represent McClain Township. He will fulfill this position until the 2023 fair when he will need to be voted on for the remainder of the term. There was also a $1,700 donation from Geise’s funeral.
Bill Clark reminded people to find sponsorships/investors. There are six different sponsorship options that people and businesses can choose from.
OFMA districts 1 and 2 have their spring meeting in Hancock County on April 15 at 4:00 p.m.
New business discussion included the need to finish the stage and replace the roof on the ticket booth on Highland, as well as additional discussion on the drainage issues with the south side of the Clopay building, but they need more information and are continuing to look at options.
It was requested next month for an update to be provided regarding the electronic sign at Fair Road and the amount of revenue it has brought in.
The meeting ended after Brad Meyer was sworn in.
The next fair board meeting will be on Wednesday, March 15 at 7:00 p.m. in the secretary’s office.
