Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Community Events topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Organizers move downtown car show to Richland County Fairgrounds; ask county for roughly $2,000
Summary
Kathy Cullitt Mills told commissioners the downtown car show will move to the Richland County Fairgrounds this year and next because of downtown construction, and the organizing committee requested about $2,000 from the county to help cover event costs.
Kathy Cullitt Mills, a volunteer with the downtown car show committee, told the Richland County Board of Commissioners on March 13 the event will move to the Richland County Fairgrounds for this year and next because ongoing downtown construction will make the square and surrounding streets unavailable.
Mills told commissioners the fairgrounds venue can accommodate the show’s scale — the committee estimates capacity for about 700 show vehicles on the flat, consolidated grounds — and plans to add a craft show, a swap meet and a sports‑card show on the same day. She said participants pay an entry fee and that early registrants receive a free T‑shirt; the committee also pays for trophies, a stage and entertainment such as a DJ and a band.
On behalf of the committee, Mills requested the county consider a modest donation of about $2,000 to cover expenses including trophies, T‑shirts, entertainment and the fairgrounds rental. She said the event’s finances are currently handled through the Chamber of Commerce.
Commissioners acknowledged the request but said they must confirm whether a county contribution is legally permissible. The board noted that municipalities have home‑rule authority that counties do not, and asked staff to review relevant provisions of the Ohio Revised Code before any county payment could be approved. Commissioners also asked Mills to provide further details by email: the intended payee (for example the Chamber of Commerce or another nonprofit or LLC), an itemized use of the requested funds, and what percentage of the event’s total budget the $2,000 would represent. Mills said the city previously provided $1,500 and that the committee would follow up with the requested information.
Commissioners indicated they are open to reviewing the request after staff confirms legal permissibility and the committee supplies the additional financial and payee details.
The car show is scheduled on a date described by Mills as the fourth Saturday in August (yearly date may fluctuate); Mills also noted the county fair runs Aug. 3–10 and said the fairground auxiliary cafeteria and specialty food vendors will be available the day of the show. Mills asked that a commissioner represent the board by selecting a Commissioner’s Choice award winner at the event; commissioners signaled willingness to participate and asked to receive meeting follow‑up by email.
