Fair board election could impact future decisions

FINDLAY — The Hancock County Agricultural Society membership will have some big decisions to make this election season, with 13 director seats up for consideration. Seats for members living in Allen, Liberty, Madison, Marion, Pleasant, Portage and Van Buren townships are open for three-year terms. Biglick, Blanchard and Jackson townships are available for a one-year term. In addition, two at-large seats will be filled for three-year terms, along with one at-large seat for a one-year term. As of Friday afternoon, the fair office had received eight petitions for the open positions, according to Shelly Metzger, the society's bookkeeper and office manager. Voting is limited to individuals who hold both a season ticket and a society membership certificate. Candidates must be society members, at least 21-years-old or have held membership for at least three years and must reside in Hancock County. Petitions must be filled at the fair office by 5 p.m. Monday. Voting will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sept. 7 at the Old Mill Stream Centre. Each petition requires signatures from at least 10 agricultural society members. The composition of the board could significantly influence several ongoing issues, including how future installments of bed tax revenue are spent, the hiring of a new fair and events manager and persistent concerns about transparency. Many of these decisions are expected to be addressed after the conclusion of the Hancock County Fair, which begins Tuesday. Last year the Hancock County Board of Commissioners voted to pause hotel-motel (bed) tax payments after raising concerns about the results of the society's state audit. Earlier this year, the results of a follow-up audit of the agricultural society's 2023-24 was released, detailing recurring material weaknesses in financial reporting. A report from the Ohio State Auditor's Office said the errors were the result of "inadequate policies and procedures" in financial documentation. A statement from society leadership, released moments after the state released its findings, reported the society leadership was "pleased" with the results. Commissioners voted earlier this year both to release all withheld payments of the tax money and to renew the agreement for future installments. Commissioner Jeff Hunker voted against both resolutions, citing unresolved issues with the society's financial reporting. Meanwhile, the fair board remains under a separate forensic audit by the auditor's Special Investigations Unit. Earlier this month, society leadership met with commissioners to address concerns about how bed tax money was being utilized and about public statements asserting the society is not a public body. A statement released late last year claimed the society's 501(c)(3) status exempted it from Ohio's open meetings and public records laws. The society argued that accepting public funds "does not convert HCAS into a public body." The board maintains that it "voluntarily conducts its affairs in a transparent and accountable manner." However, multiple requests from The Courier for notice of financial committee meetings have gone unanswered. Requests for employee payment information, commission payments from fairground rentals and documentation of the board's nonprofit status were denied. Society Vice President Jeff Beach directed The Courier to "Google" the society's nonprofit status. In March, the society presented a revised plan for a new small-animal building at the Hancock County Fairgrounds, shifting away from its earlier proposal that drew public criticism. In February 2025, the fair board voted 13-6 to pursue a $2.9 million, 21,270-square-foot structure that would have replaced the existing dairy barn and connected it to the Legacy Building. That plan sparked public opposition from residents concerned about demolishing the dairy barn and uncertainty about how the project would be funded. In more recent meetings, the board has considered revised plans for the project, instead planning for a 9,600-square-foot open pole-barn building. The board now plans to demolish an aging chicken barn and an adjacent pony barn to make room. Society treasurer John Livingston has said the board plans to pay for the project through bed tax dollars that can only be used to make capital improvements to the fairgrounds. There is currently no estimate for how much it will cost, though design plans have been said to cost approximately $51,000. Also on the table is a decision on who will replace Haley Reese after her departure as fair and events manager. At the August regular board meeting, the agricultural society accepted Reese's resignation with a unanimous vote after a 30 minute executive session, citing Ohio Revised Code 121.22 which allows public bodies to enter executive session to consider matters of employment pertaining to a public employee. The board also voted to give Metzger interim duties until a final decision can be made. Reese's resignation letter does not specify a reason for leaving, but calls it "one of the greatest heartbreaks." A Facebook post from the board thanked Reese for her dedication to the fair and assured society members that the organization has been put in a position to succeed moving forward.