Despite asking for a longer-term agreement, the Miami Valley Steam Threshers Association is looking at a time when it will no longer be at Pastime Park.
“We are actively looking elsewhere,” said Gary Gallimore, with the Steam Threshers Association, at a Plain City Village Council meeting Monday.
Gallimore said the “biggest problem” he has with Plain City is the village “keeps wanting more and more and taking more and more.”
He also said the park is “not nearly big enough.”
“If you get a phone call one day saying we are headed out, don’t be too surprised,” Gallimore said.
Officials explained they lease adjacent fields to use for parking. Gallimore said if either of them became unavailable, the show would not have enough room for parking.
Even so, the Steam Threshers Association is looking for an extension on its lease. The association has two years remaining on its current lease. Officials said larger, national exhibits schedule up to five years in advance. Gallimore said it’s difficult to get them to commit to a show if they do not know where it will be held.
“They know we are on rented ground and that’s the first question, ‘Do you have a contract?’” Gallimore said.
Village Administrator Nathan Cahall asked council how members wanted him to proceed. He said many of the potential issues have been resolved. Camping revenue, however, is still an issue. The Steam Threshers charge a fee for camping. The village also charges a fee for camping. In the past however, those camping during the steam show paid only the Steam Threshers Association, meaning the village lost on the revenue. Additionally, camping exceeded the capacity of the campground. Last year, the Union County Health Department said the overcrowding was a health concern and warned the village it could cost the ability to host camping at the park.
“The last thing we would want to do is, in trying to accommodate the steam threshers, go over and then we end up losing campers and camp ground revenue the rest of the year,” said Linda Granger, parks and recreation director for the village.
Cahall said there would need to be strict camping guidelines. Additionally, he said the village is spending money to improve the camp sites based on increased revenue.
Council member Jody Carney suggested the steam threshers be allowed to use the unimproved campsites but those camping on the improved sites would continue to pay the village.
“I feel like that would be a good agreement, a win-win,” Carney said.
Granger said there could be a possibility of a temporary licensure through the state for additional camping.
Officials said the village’s improvements are interfering with the available space and it will cost the association.
“It feels like the village wants a campground instead of a park,” Gallimore said.
Council member Darin Lee said the lease needs to work for both parties. He said he wants more time to look at the benefits of an extension verses a new contract.
Carney said she knows some members of the association feel council does not want the show in the village. She said that isn’t the case.
“I feel like this is a very important event,” said Carney said. “Everybody is moving to Plain City because they want that small town feel. This is an event that brings out the small town feel.”
Lane said he knows how much time and energy it takes to operate the steam show. He said the village gets a multi-day event for little expense on its side. He urged council, staff and the association to continue working together.
“This is my stomping ground and I hate to leave, but looking down the road, we are going to have to leave. I don’t see any choice,” Gallimore said.
The mayor urged council, staff and the association to continue working together.
“I, for one, don’t want to see it leave,” Lane said
The 70th Annual Steam Threshers Show and Reunion is scheduled for July 18-21, 2019.