ROME TOWNSHIP — Feb. 1 is the date set for construction to begin on the new barn and arena at the fairgrounds.

At its January meeting on Monday the county fair board voted to buy new pens for the livestock from Cooke’s Farm Center. The cost will be approximately $25,000.

On its agenda for today’s meeting the Lawrence County Commissioners planned to finalize the agreement with the fair board to provide the $400,000 in funding for the construction. The plan is for the commission to borrow the money, and then be repaid from the pledges made at last year’s fair for the project.

Construction is expected to take three months, fair board president Freddie Hayes, said.

The barn is being relocated to the area near the horse barns and the current site of the barn will be designed for the new kiddie carnival rides at this year’s fair.

“The main thing that we are real excited about are the new rides,” Hayes said. “We’re going up to Columbus to meet with the guy. They will be all brand new rides. It is going to be something.”

Michael’s Amusements will supply all the rides for the new fair, adult and juvenile.

“It will cost $20,000 extra, but it is for safety issues, to make sure the kids are safe,” Hayes said.

The next important date in getting ready for fair week, which will start this year on Sunday, July 8, is the hog, lamb and goat tag-in on April 28. That event will be at the fairgrounds since those animals can be tagged on the trailers.

The board is still determining who the fair will be dedicated to this year.

“We will know that after we get back from Columbus,” Hayes said.