GREENVILLE – The Darke County Fairboard addressed two disciplinary matters during its regular meeting on September 9, 2026, issuing a lifetime ban to Jim McDade and barring Olivia Schmitmeyer from serving on a Junior Fair committee.
Following a half-hour executive session which included several members of the goat committee, the directors returned to the meeting with Director Hicks stating, “I move that Jim McDade, having been escorted from the Great Darke County Fairgrounds due to disorderly and disruptive behavior as well as other cases presented, be barred from attending, participating in, exhibiting at, camping in, or otherwise entering upon the Great Darke County Fairgrounds or a Great Darke County Fair-sponsored event for life. This shall become effective immediately upon adoption of this motion and shall remain in effect.” The motion passed with a unanimous vote.
Hicks continued with a second motion, “I move that Olivia Schmitmeyer be barred from sitting on a Junior Fair committee of the Great Darke County Fair, effective immediately upon the adoption of this motion and shall remain in effect.” This motion also passed unanimously.
The remainder of the meeting focused on a recap of the Great Darke County Fair and new business.
Director Yount encouraged department heads to review their profit and loss reports as those are integral to creating the budget for the upcoming year. Yount commented on the current finances of the Fairboard by saying, “We are in good shape, but we still have bills to pay,” while noting that the water and electric bills from August have not been received yet, but are estimated to be nearly $80,000 combined.
Director Yount also brought forth a complaint about the board. He addressed the importance of maintaining confidentiality of executive-session discussions. Yount claimed to have heard confidential information being discussed in public by non-members of the board. He expressed his dismay, saying, “If you can’t discuss things in executive session without it staying there, then this board has a problem.”
The board heard reports from directors on their departments with most reporting that things went well in spite of the heavy rain leading up to the fair. General admission to the fair was up by nearly 10,000 from last year.
Director Bowman addressed concerns about a number of rabbits that died post-fair and reported that Dr. Deeter has been contacted to follow up on the matter. Bowman expressed gratitude to Jim Buchy for his work to bring attention to the harness races on Thursday which garnered over 9,000 views compared with the previous number of 3,500 views.
The board also heard and passed motions to renew its contract with Aggressive Pest Control, to replace two doors on the speed office for $2,500, to renew the motorcycle races for the 2027 fair, and to purchase up to five loads of grindings to fill wet spots on the fairgrounds.
Director Skaggs presented a motion concerning the 50th anniversary passes. He moved to allow a surviving spouse to retain the pass after a partner’s death, as long as the spouse had received the pass in the prior year. The motion passed with a 6-5 vote.
The board praised the community for their patience and understanding as members faced the challenge of setting up the fair and parking campers after over 10 inches of pre-fair rain. They noted that despite the long waits and challenges presented by the rain, that the community’s positive attitudes were greatly appreciated.
President Werner reviewed the constitutional amendment that was approved in the election. The amendment will be filed with the courthouse, and the board will update its policies and procedures.
Werner also addressed the audit and the initial reports of a financial discrepancy. They have traced the discrepancy to a placeholder number that was entered into the books and not removed. That has been resolved and they are hoping to have a full audit report ready by October. Directors May and Yount offered to discuss questions that anyone may have concerning the audit.
The annual meeting will be held on September 15, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. The next regular meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 14, 2026 at 7 p.m.
