Fairgrounds rentals produce $174K 

Wayne County Fairgrounds rental revenue grew 19% during 2025, and with 64 events already booked this year, 2026 has started strongly as well.

Shelby Bertsch, the fairgrounds’ new sales and marketing coordinator, presented 2025 successes and 2026 plans to county council members and commissioners during the Jan. 21 joint workshop.

The fairgrounds hosted 81 paid events last year, an increase of four from 2024 and well beyond the 59 from 2023. That generated $174,087.41 in revenue, up from $146,875.15 in 2024.

Wayne County has invested in fairgrounds improvements, partially funded by First Bank’s 10-year, $1 million naming rights deal for the two largest fairgrounds buildings, with an ambition of making the fairgrounds self-sustaining.

Renters paid about $85,000 for First Bank Expo Hall and about $48,000 for First Bank Kuhlman Center last year. Rentals of tables and chairs also generated $13,745.36 in revenue. The county spent about $39,000 on the tables and chairs, which are on pace to pay for themselves in three years of use. Steve Higinbotham, the county administrator, said the tables and chairs are holding up well.

The annual Autumn Oaks dog event generated $14,530 in revenue, the most from a single event last year. An additional United Kennel Club event, for which the fairgrounds bid, is scheduled this year.

Looking forward, Bertsch shared plans to improve interaction with fairgrounds social media efforts and with its website through paid boosted ads, more video postings and Google pay per click ads.

Higinbotham said the fairgrounds is at the tail end of a priority project list as an additional parking lot east of Expo Hall is being constructed. Next priorities include storage for the tables and chairs, plus improved camping with additional electric and water capacity.

Payroll clerk

Auditor Mark Hoelscher requested council’s permission to seek candidates and hire a payroll clerk.

During council’s Jan. 7 meeting, Hoelscher received permission to post the opening, then after finding a candidate, he received hiring permission. The new employee resigned after one day.

Council expressed concerns about the environment in the auditor’s office. Max Smith, the council president, said three auditor office employees have resigned and a fourth tried to resign and could leave at any time. 

“My thought, as well, is let’s see what happens as far as getting the office turmoil resolved, getting an environment that employees want to stay and work in and we can consider this again at personnel meeting in February,” Smith said.

Council members also questioned how a new employee would be trained and what that training might cost. Council member Barry Ritter noted that council does not want an employee hired and set up to fail because of inadequate training.

The former payroll clerk, who now works in another department, is currently ensuring the county meets payroll. 

Council did not give Hoelscher permission to post the job opening.

“Do you understand what position that puts issuing a payroll in?” Hoelscher said.

Smith replied: “I don’t think that changes the issue of payroll in the least. Payroll is going to be taken care of.”

The discussion ended and the workshop continued, but at meeting’s end, Hoelscher revisited the topic.

“I will tell you that you are pushing this issue into an area that may take legal ways to solve it if you are not going to let me hire somebody to do the job that I’m required to do,” he said.

Other actions

• Council approved the Wayne County Convention and Tourism budget, funded by an innkeeper’s tax. The $1,213,230 budget was presented to council Aug. 6.
• The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office received permission to hire a part-time deputy prosecutor for the IV-D, child-support court. The position is paid from IV-D funds. The previous part-time employee was promoted to full time, filling an opening created by a resignation.
• Council agreed to transfer $10,000 for the clerk’s postage needs until a final decision is made on where to place postage funds, which are now currently in the commissioners’ budget.
• An interlocal agreement that transfers ownership of new radios to Webster Township was unanimously approved. The radios are part of the county’s emergency communications upgrade.