by Paul Ramlow, USTA Internet News Manager

Columbus, OH — The Warren County (Ohio) Fair Board has suggested building two smaller barns to replace a larger one destroyed by fire last December.

According to a story in the Dayton Daily News, the board made its proposal to replace Lebanon Raceway’s Barn 16, located on the fairgrounds, which was destroyed in a Dec. 5 fire that claimed the lives of two men and 42 Standardbreds, to the Warren County Commission during a work session on Jan. 21.

Fair Board president Ron Hurtt told the Commission that building two smaller barns, about 6,400 square feet each and without stalls, may be a solution to providing a new facility that could be used for various horse show events as well as inside storage during the winter.

Warren County could receive $717,747 from insurance reimbursements if it constructs a replacement barn the same size as Barn 16 or $532,421 if it decides to construct something similar, the commissioners said. The proposed new barns are estimated to cost about $400,000.

Shane Cartmill, spokesman for the State Fire Marshal’s office, told the paper the Dec. 5 fire remains an active, ongoing investigation. He could not say when the investigation would be completed.