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Trumbull County Fair Board asked to dream bigger

Malloy aims to make 4-H building useful year round

WARREN — Trumbull County Fair Board members are being asked to dream bigger about use of the fairgrounds, including possibly having the current 4-H facility redesigned to be used as an expo center that can be used year-round.

Commissioner Denny Malloy, during the commissioners weekly workshop, said he wants to explore using the 4H facility as a place that county residents can rent anytime for meetings and various activities.

The fair board has made an estimated request for $1,139,068 from the county’s portion of the American Rescue Plan Act funds. The request is to use $95,565 for a roof for the 4-H horse barn, $18,515 for a roof of the annex building, $759,000 to make the 4-H building handicapped accessible, $253,000 to make the commercial building’s restrooms accessible and $12,988 for parking lot improvements.

The final costs will not be determined until the board receives bids from contractors.

“I don’t think they’re asking for enough,” Malloy said. “If we are going to consider providing $800,000, I want them to dream bigger.”

Malloy described the current building as not having heating, air conditioning and other needs that would make it useful throughout the year.

“There are counties all around us that have multi-use and multi-purpose buildings,” Malloy said. “This seems to be a trend happening statewide. If we can make the fairgrounds more user friendly for meetings, fundraisers, banquets and other public uses, then we could possibly earn enough in rent to pay for its continued maintenance and pay for the improvements.”

The commissioner said the fair board previously had not looked at this possibility, because its members felt they needed to keep requests to what the county could afford.

“I want board members and residents in more rural areas of the county to know they have someone who will listen to their concerns and wants,” Malloy said. “I’ve been told that the board had, in the past, only made requests for things its members thought they could receive.”

Malloy said there could be gun, craft and other types of shows in the building.

“It is done in Wayne, Mahoning, Cuyahoga counties using their building in this way,” he continued.

Malloy was scheduled to meet with board members Tuesday afternoon.

Commissioner Mauro Cantalamessa agrees the fairgrounds have been underutilized. However, he added, the commissioners initially need to prioritize the use of ARP funds to take care of the structural needs at the fairgrounds.

“We need to repair what is needed today,” Cantalamessa said. “Then we can look forward to the future.”

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