Talk of the Town - Whitley County

(Talk of the Town photos by Jennifer Zartman Romano) Whitley County 4-H Inc. board president Bill Leeuw, left, and board member Tim Yagel, right, look at a fairgrounds site map while considering an ideal location for a proposed new livestock building on the property. 

By Jennifer Zartman Romano

Tuesday’s meeting of the Whitley County 4-H Inc., the board that oversees the Whitley County 4-H program, provided a unique opportunity for Ron Myer.

Myer, the recently retired board member honored that evening for 30 years of service to the board, spent his first meeting away from the table – yet present for the meeting. In all of those 30 years, Myer has been involved as a board member, most recently as board president.

Seated along the wall with other guests at the meeting, Myer remarked, “I want to see what its like to be a patron. I’ve never done this before!”

Board treasurer Kent Reese brought to the board’s attention an issue involving 4-H auction checks failing to be cashed in a timely manner – causing recording-keeping issues.

“We have a problem with what’s going on with livestock checks,” Reese said. “Kids don’t seem to want to cash them in a timely manner.” Reese said some youths have been known to keep their checks for more than a year without cashing them. One parent, when approached about the problem, found their son’s check yet uncashed in a vehicle’s glove box. Reese estimated that there are approximately 6-8 offenders each year.

Reese asked the board to consider a penalty of $30 to reissue a check if it is not cashed within 60 days of receipt, which the board considered and approved.

“I’m not out to make a bad situation for the kids, but they should be penalized,” he said. The penalty would be assessed and put into the general operating funds of 4-H Inc.

Board member Dave Rupley reported on his meeting with Don King of King Auctions, the firm that presents large scale auctions on the 4-H grounds twice annually. Concerns between 4-H Inc. and King Auctions have been discussed for several months and the two groups are hoping to come to an agreement on future auctions at the location. Rupley reported that three main concerns remain – including electricity costs, chair usage and a security deposit. The board discussed the three issues and agreed to suitable solutions that will leave both parties feeling positive as they move forward. In the end, King will be asked to pay for any electricity used as a result of his auction, which will be metered before and after the auction, chair usage will be allowed and half of King’s security deposit will be released when the fairgrounds are vacated after the auction, with the remainder paid out after any damage to fairgrounds property is completed.

In all, King will pay $2500 to rent the fairgounds property and assessed a $1250 depost.

“This is kind of a give and take thing,” said board member Bob McKown. “We don’t want to lose this (event).”

Board member Tim Yagel updated the board with estimates on building a new livestock building on the fairgrounds property. Three estimates were provided, with one each from Noah Hilty, Mike Gruettert and Dave Sheets & Sons. The estimates varied based on whether the costs included labor or both labor and supplies. In all, a new building is expected to cost approximately $69,000.

“It could happen quick,” Yagel said, “as soon as the weather straightens up.” Yagel said Hilty’s crew could have the building up and built in a week if they were selected.

The proposed livestock building would be identical to the sheep barn that already exists at the fairgrounds, a large building with no sides and a dirt floor. Described as “no bells or whistles” by Yagel, the building would not include drains or water lines.

In addition to not being fully certain on funding sources for the building, an exact location has not yet been determined. Initial ideas would have the barn near the demolition derby track, but on further investigation, the board was not sure this would be an ideal location due to a possible traffic bottleneck created as a result.
”We need to make sure this is a full, working plan,” said board member Kent Kneller after looking at a site map with board president Bill Leeuw and Yagel.

“The first thing we’ve got to figure out is how we’re going to pay for a building,” said board member Aaron McDevitt.

The board considered levying a per animal or project fee or per family fee for 4-H members that would build a fund from which buildings may be funded in the future.

“This would be a way to generate some money,” one board member said.

Other options, presented by McKown, included charging a percentage from final livestock auction proceeds and asking clubs to donate a percentage of their end of year surplus to support a building fund.

“No one likes having to give money up,” McKown said. “If you want something new, though, you have to be willing to provide for that.”

Expecting to need more barns and building funds in the future, Leeuw said he felt it would be necessary to look into various building fund options.

McKown said that while bus demolition derbies seem to be a thing of the past and that statewide demolition derby attendance seems to be down, the Whitley County 4-H program has been blessed by good attendance. He did see, however, an opportunity to bolster attendance at the Sunday night derby by opening it to out of county competitors. Non-Whitley County residents would be required to follow local rules. After discussion and consideration, the board agreed to allow out-of-county contestants to participate in the demolition derby on Sunday only this year.

After shopping the Whitley County 4-H Inc.’s loan around to various local banks for refinancing, treasurer Kent Reese shared his findings with the board, saying he recommended they continue working with Star Financial Bank, to which the board agreed.

“In the dollar figure of what they do for us, we can’t afford to go anywhere else,” Reese said. “They go out on a limb for us. We’d be foolish to go anywhere else.”

Board member Chad Nix suggested a potential revenue generating idea for future consideration. Nix said the board might want to consider offering advertising on the family passes created for demolition derbies.

Recent flooding and drainage of the Whitley County 4-H fairgrounds property was discussed as well, with Kneller saying repairs of broken drain tiles in and around the 4-H property is ongoing. Approximately 140 foot of broken tiles north of the fairgrounds will need to be fixed and volunteers are being sought to complete the repairs. In all, costs to fix all of the damaged tiles would be expected to cost approximately $10,000.

Barry Yeakle, representing Toys for Tots and the local Leatherneck Coffee Club, approached the board with a request to allow his group to present a mud volleyball tournament on the fairgrounds, specifically in the demolition derby pit area. After discussing concerns about debris in that area, Yeakle stated that volunteers would sift the soil and remove dangers. Additionally, the board requested that if allowed to proceed with the tournament, the group would need to provide their own insurance.

Leeuw and board member Cindy Zollinger will format a proposal. The event may take place in May.