Putnam County Fairgrounds getting new event center

OTTAWA — Work on a new $4.5 million event center is set to begin following the close of this summer's Putnam County Fair. The Putnam County Commissioners — Vincent Schroeder, John Schlumbohm and Michael Lammers — said the new 17,400-square-foor structure will replace the current junior fair and merchants buildings that are currently on the grounds. The two buildings, constructed of cement block with wooden roofs, date back to the late 1940s or early 1950s, said Schlumbohm. Schroeder said the fair board has complained for years about the chipped mortar coming out from between the blocks. Steel supports in the blocks expand and contract with the weather, they said, which causes damage to the mortar. "They've been maintained over the years. I can't take anything away from previous commissioners and fair boards," said Schlumbohm. "But things do reach a point where it costs more to repair them." The 168th Putnam County Fair will be held June 19-24. The two buildings will be razed in July with work on the new building scheduled to begin Aug. 1. The new 17,400-square-foot building is 15% larger than the next largest venue in Putnam County, according to the commissioners. It should easily seat 600 people and will be able to handle activities that are being held in both of the current buildings, they noted. "It's not as big as the total (of the two buildings), but it will be more efficient," Schroeder said. About $3 million from American Rescue Plan funds received by the county will help pay for the building. The commissioners explained the funds have to be used on pandemic-related projects. To meet this requirement, the building will have garage doors located on both ends so it can be used for drive-thru testing and vaccinations. It will also provide a quarantine site for first responders and the public. "In the previous pandemic, we had to rent a space if there was a possibility of first responders becoming exposed or infected. During the pandemic, we had to house them away from their families and services," said Schlumbohm. "This was another function of that building that was looked at when we did the design so that we're a little more prepared. Hopefully it never happens, obviously." The center, which was described as being a "state-of-the-art" facility, will have a kitchen, restrooms and showers. The remaining $1.5 million cost will come from the Capital Improvement Fund. The total cost includes groundwork, parking and construction of the building, they said. In addition to its use during the fair, the commissioners anticipate that the building will be rented for receptions and meetings, similar to how the Old Mill Stream Center in Findlay is used. In the long run, this will save the taxpayers money by providing operating income to the fair. The new event center is expected to be completed in May 2024. The fair board will manage the building, they said. "The key decision was we had to use these funds for the American Rescue Plan and we also wanted something that would last roughly 50 years for future generations which these buildings that are currently there do not have 50 years of life in them at all," said Lammers. The wooden grandstand at the fairground will also receive a facelift prior to this year's fair. The historical facility will see a new roof, metal siding, new posts throughout and new concrete which will extend the life of the structure for years to come, according to the fairgrounds' website. A bid of $889,699 was approved for the work. Lammers said there are plans to involve a group of 4-H members in a mock groundbreaking ceremony for the new building during the opening of this year's fair.