Summit County Executive Russell M. Pry and Five Community Organizations Announce Partnerships 

The County of Summit, Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (MRDD), Metro Parks, Serving Summit County, the Summit County OSU Extension, City of Tallmadge, and the Agricultural Society will join together for the signing of two documents, a conservation easement and approval of legislation on Tuesday.  This collaboration represents years of coordination and cooperation by these six agencies of the county.

The signing, completed at a press conference at the Summit County Fairgrounds, signifies one of the largest partnerships in the County of Summit. 

• 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.
• The County of Summit Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (MRDD) will allow the Summit County Agricultural Society to use one of their parking lots during the week of the Summit County Fair.
• The County of Summit will provide the City of Tallmadge with property to be utilized for soccer fields.

“This collaborative effort proves that agreements can be reached when all hands are on and everyone works together for the greater good of the community,” said Summit County Executive Russell M. Pry.  “Signing the conservation easement celebrates the partnering of all parties to conserve green space and promote recreation in Summit County.”