Commissioner decries fair leaders

FINDLAY — Hancock County Commissioner Jeffrey Hunker said Thursday he opposes releasing hotel-motel tax revenue to the fair board until it makes big policy or leadership changes. Fair board leaders have been criticized in recent weeks over their financial reporting, decisions, priorities, rude public relations and conduct of elections of its board of directors. The commissioners weeks ago decided to withhold the fair board's most recent $74,494 quarterly payment from the county's hotel-motel tax until the board gets its fiscal reporting in order. The State Auditor's Office found the fair board's 2022 financial statements contained errors — in the hundreds of thousands of dollars — about cash balance, spending and grants received. "The leadership either has to have a total reversal in the way they approach the public, and don't burn bridges like they have been burning," Hunker said. "If there is not a total reversal in things that have been done as well as in the leadership of the board, it's going to be very hard to see this organization be what they need to be." Others have called the board's management reckless. County fair dairy exhibitors were dismayed last week when told by fair board members that the dairy barn was scheduled for demolition this past Tuesday. It seemed to be another show, observers said, of fair board disrespect for those who disagree. Dairy exhibitors and others have questioned the fair board's plans to build a $2.9 million, 21,720-square-foot animal barn where the dairy barn now stands. Kryling said the fair board had been secretive for much of this year about its vote in February to demolish the dairy barn and construct the new building. The fair board has lost its way and put children in second place, Hunker said. "I think the sad part about it is, instead of putting the youth first, they're chasing the dollar," Hunker said. "And that's not what it's all about." He seemed to be exhorting the other two commissioners — William Bateson and Timothy Bechtol — to join him in being forceful and continuing to hold the fair board accountable. "By us giving additional funds and them pushing what, I think, is pushing a case of building a new building without taking the time to thoroughly research and gain support from everyone involved and have some funds on hand – a significant amount of funds on hand so that you don't have to borrow as much money – I think they're putting a lot of things in jeopardy," Hunker said. "As you know and I know, when you want to go and build something, you've got to have a decent amount of money down or you've got to have something to put up as collateral," Hunker said after the meeting. "Well, the only thing I know that they have as collateral is the fairgrounds." Bateson was silent at Thursday's meeting about Hunker's points. Bechtol asked Hunker questions at various points. Bechtol: "How does the (fair) leadership change? Or, how can the leadership be changed?" Hunker: "Well, that has to come from within. The (fair) board has to make that decision." Bechtol: "We don't have any control over that." Hunker: "We don't have control, but right now we are tied to this in what I would call guilt by association. When we are funding (it), we are a part of it, whether you two (commissioners) think so or not." Hunker after the meeting said the fair board is "very dependent" on the county hotel-motel tax money. "That's how the county commissioners are tied to them," he said. "We do control the bed tax (hotel-motel tax)." "We have a responsibility to the taxpayers," Hunker said. "Anyone that we give taxpayer money to, we have some responsibility to make sure that money is used wisely and people in return are treated with dignity and respect." Hunker said he has experienced first-hand what others have said about the fair board. "I, personally, (in) a couple of cases have been directly lied to, and I don't take kindly to that," he said. "There are some other issues many people have shared with me the way that they have been treated in public, and … some things have to be addressed." Election concerns The fair board could find itself under state investigation over allegations related to campaigning and election of its board of directors this past Monday, Hunker said. "In the general public, there's some questions about whether or not their election was done properly," he said. People have told the Ohio Department of Agriculture that rules governing campaigning and elections for the fair board may not have been followed. "A lot of it has to do with improper campaigning … or maybe not necessarily by the candidates, but others promoting certain candidates," he said. Hunker said that "was the last straw" that spurred him to speak out Thursday. "I feel as though I have been lied to. It just comes down to people acting with integrity," he said. "I think there is some lack of it out there now."