MANSFIELD — Richland County Agricultural Society leaders on Tuesday asked county commissioners for $500,000 in financial assistance, much of which would help pay for a new roof on Fairhaven Hall.
The request may be eligible for a portion of the county’s share of American Rescue Plan Act funds, according to Andrew Keller, the county administrator.
Commissioners took no action on the request, pledging to review and revisit the issue in the next few weeks. This year’s county fair is scheduled for Aug. 7 to 13 on the city’s north side at 750 N. Home Road.
Fair officials presented commissioners with financial information for the past three years, including 2020, a year which saw the county fair limited to just junior fair events due to COVID-19.
The fairgrounds also lost nearly all rental revenue due to events being cancelled due to the pandemic.
David Dick, a member of the society board and also representing the livestock committee, told commissioners the organization has rebounded and just needs assistance “to get ahead” again.
“Everything is headed in the right direction,” Dick said. “If we can get assistance, we can get ahead and plan for the future.”
He said the society has 28 “active” board members, all of whom are working hard on a volunteer basis.
“We are fully cognizant that upkeep at the fairgrounds is not (commissioners’) responsibility,” he said. “(But) we are at a fork in the road and that’s why we are here.”
The biggest current need is for new roofs on some fairgrounds’ buildings, including Fairhaven Hall, which is estimated to cost around $380,000.
Dick said the board also plans to continue repaving sections of the fairgrounds and has an active campaign to raise funds for a new show arena, a facility that would also increase the society’s ability to increase revenue through winter storage of boats, RVs, etc.
Commissioners seemed inclined to find a way to assist, saying the fairgrounds was likely second to only the engineer’s office in terms of COVID-19 financial impact.
Keller said commissioners are permitted to provide funds to the local agricultural society under ORC Section 1711.15, including for the construction and repair of buildings.
He said ARPA funds could possibly be used, though that will require more research to make a determination.
Commissioners also on Tuesday:
— renewed one-year contracts with Ashland Cleaning (custodial services) and Commercial Cleaning Enterprises (floor care) at the same rates paid in 2021 for work in county buildings. The contract with Ashland Cleaning is $226,867 and the deal with Commercial Cleaning is $43,997.
— rejected all bids for a bridge project on Possum Run Road when all three were more than 10 percent over county Engineer Adam Gove’s estimate of $73,400. The lowest bid was $89,938. Commissioners voted to seek new bids with a new estimated cost of $86,375.
— approved a contract for $41,186 with American Structurepoint of Cleveland to administer the Mill Run Road bridge project in Troy Township.
