As members of the Warrenton Board of Aldermen and the Warren County Fair Board discussed issues surrounding the 2009 version of the Fair, the theme kept coming back to one word - communication. Board members from both sides expressed their intent is to show better cooperation in the future. They tentatively have scheduled to meet in January in preparation for the 2010 Fair, which is slated to begin July 4. "We can't fix this if we don't work together," Mayor Greg Costello said. "We do need to agree on what is going to be allowed." Tuesday's meeting had been requested by the Fair Board following several encounters the week before and during this year's Fair, held June 28-July 4. Some of the problems the Fair Board ran into at this year's event, members said, included last-minute inquiries related to installing fencing along the parade route on Main Street, cleanup following the parade, concerns that the Warrenton Police Department had two undercover cops carding fairgoers and vendors' failures to obtain a city merchants license. "I think one of our main concerns was this year we had so many things that came down on us at one point," Fair Board member Matt O'Brien said. "It was one thing after another after another after another." The majority of the issues related to the police department, according to Fair Board members. They were angered about what they perceived was unfriendly dealings with Police Chief Davis Bernard related to the parade. O'Brien, in his first year organizing the parade, said he met twice with Lt. Greg Houdyshell and Bernard and another time with Bernard during the final month leading up to the event to finalize arrangements. But it wasn't until two days before the parade, O'Brien said, that he learned a barricade was needed to be set up on Main Street to keep spectators from venturing out into the road. A snow fence wound up being erected by the Fair Board. Christy Bonstell, another Fair board member, added that Bernard tried to prohibit youth from driving go-carts and ATVs after the parade had started due to safety concerns. "I think we understand there was a communication issue," Costello said. Since aldermen had decided to not have the city's police department provide security at the fairgrounds, Fair Board officials were unhappy to find two officers dressed in plain clothes carding people one evening. City officials said the police department was taking advantage of a grant used to combat underage drinking. Roger Owenby, Fair Board chairman, noted sheriff's deputies were at the fairgrounds and other off-duty deputies were paid to card those purchasing alcohol in the beer garden to make sure people were of legal drinking age. "If we would have been told you had this grant and asked if it was OK that you came out here, just let us know," said Bonstell, who also remarked the two cops refused to pay admission. "But to come out here on private property, that is where I was taken aback." Fair Board members indicated they felt the street cleanup after the parade was sufficient, though Costello disagreed. He said the city has received complaints from Main Street business owners in the past frustrated with the trash. From the $500 cleanup deposit from this year, the Fair Board will only receive $80. The remaining $420 will be used to offset costs accrued by the city. "Your record of cleaning up the street after the parade has been miserable for the last two to three years," Costello remarked. "You are better off paying the deposit and realizing the city will clean up the street and refund whatever is left." When Fair Board members questioned why vendors need a city permit, a copy of the Fair's commercial exhibitor contract was passed out by the city in which Costello pointed out that one of the 15 rules and regulations mentioned was that a exhibitor selling merchandise needed a merchants license. In previous years, vendors could bypass the license fee, city officials acknowledged, because the ordinance was not enforced. "I hope everyone knows the city is not against the Fair," Alderman Phil Tallo said. "I know I heard some grumblings that it seems like every time you turn around the city is on your butt. It looks like a lot of these issues are communication issues. Hopefully, after this meeting those will be resolved." Owenby also commented about a 10-day violation notice the Fair Board received for not removing a barrel of trash, two junk vehicles and a camper from the fairgrounds property. The citation was dated July 22. Owenby said the notice was received the day after talking with Alderman Fred Flake, who lives near the fairgrounds. Owenby said he decided to hold off on removing the trash until the 10-day period was nearly over in spite of the complaint.