A truck show was held Aug. 24, even though the organizers were denied a “late” special event permit to use the Warren County Fairgrounds by the Warrenton Board of Aldermen last week.By a 5-1 vote, city officials refused to issue the permit because the Fair Board failed to submit the request to the city by the 90-day deadline.Fair Board member Paul Owenby said the show was a meeting, and not a truck show, and he personally rented the Lions Club Saturday in order to hold the event without the required permit. Owenby said there wasn’t any way he could have notified all of the truckers who were bringing their rigs to the fairgrounds. “I canceled the Fair Board event,” he said. “I guess it’s a technicality. Also I take responsibility for whatever the city decides to do.”A total of 34 trucks were on display Saturday. The Fair Board served food and beverages to the truckers and people attending the show and each trucker received a plaque with a photograph of their rig.Some of the truckers came from Jefferson County, Franklin County, Cape Girardeau County, Lincoln County, St. Charles County and Jersey County, Ill.Warrenton Mayor Jerry Dyer said City Attorney Chris Graville could make the decision to prosecute anyone involved with the event. Graville, however, could not be reached for comment.“They weren’t given permission to have a special event, and they held it anyway,” Dyer said. “If (Owenby) rented the Lions Club and held his meeting inside, that’s OK, but if he’s using the fairgrounds, it’s a different issue.”Owenby said he feels the ordinance that calls for a 90-day notice to hold special events on the Fair Grounds is necessary, but there’s room to make it better.It was the first year the truck show was held at the fairgrounds, and Owenby said he wants to grow the event. He said a larger event could have a positive economic impact on Warrenton.“It was a great event for the community,” Owenby said. “People came from all over to participate. The ones who drove their trucks here are proud of their equipment. There were a lot of families there. That made it well worth it. I don’t have any regrets.”Truck Show Rolls On Despite Lack of Permit