Summit County Executive Russell M. Pry and Agricultural Society Move Forward with Lease Agreement

On Wednesday, November 28, 2007, Summit County Agricultural Society (SCAS) President Lee Crites signed the new Lease and Operating Agreement for the Summit County Fairgrounds. The document that was presented by Summit County Executive Russell M. Pry in an effort to resolve lingering issues that involve the operations of the County of Summit owned land located on 229 East Howe Road, Tallmadge, Ohio.

The 10 year Lease and Operating Agreement offered the following noteworthy conditions:

• The Summit County Agricultural Society shall cooperate with the Ohio State University Extension Service and be subject to participation in reviews of its operations and implementation of policies and procedures recommended by the County of Summit Department of Internal Auditing.
• The County of Summit shall retain ownership of the building known as the Summit County Fairground Arena.
• The County of Summit shall forgive one-tenth of the whole of the amount of the debt owed by the Agricultural Society to the County of Summit for each of the 10 years of the initial term of the new Lease and Operating Agreement.
• The County of Summit Agricultural Society will have the option to renew the Lease and Operating Agreement for an additional 10 year term.
• A conservation easement of land adjacent to the fairground property owned by Metro Parks, Serving Summit County will be used for parking during the week of the Summit County Fair.
• County of Summit Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (CSBMRDD) will allow the Summit County Agricultural Society to use one of their parking lots during the week of the Summit County Fair.

“I believe this document offers a great solution to a lingering problem,” said Summit County Executive Russell M. Pry. “It also shows a new spirit of collaboration and partnership between the County of Summit and essential community organizations.”

The new Lease and Operating Agreement, signed by the Summit County Agricultural Society, is scheduled to go before Summit County Council on Monday, December 3, 2007.