Utah County approves $25,000 contract to manage county fair after single responsive bid

The Utah County Commission approved a one-year contract to manage the Utah County Fair after staff reported that only one responsive proposal was returned. The contract pays $25,000 and includes a 10% commission on sponsorship revenue; the contract is described in the meeting as expiring at the end of 2022.

Commissioner Garner raised questions about the procurement process and the size of the award, saying commissioners needed to understand how the $25,000 figure was reached and whether bids were sought. Robert Baxter, the county purchasing manager, said the amount fell below the county's $50,000 formal RFP threshold and that two individuals who ran last year's fair responded as a partnership; Ben Vannoy, of the county attorney's office, said “they were the only respondents.”

Lisa Shepherd, staff for Commissioner Sakovich, said she adapted duties from the Explore Utah Valley fair director role, emailed the duties and solicitations to a former fair director and two event companies, and received only the former directors' response. She told the commission the vendor duties are written into the contract and that purchasing transactions will run through the county procurement office. Shepherd confirmed the contract includes a $500 reimbursement line, a $25,000 compensation payment, and a 10% fee on sponsorships.

Brian Vokes provided historical context, saying the county paid a single fair director $25,000 a year in 2015 and 2016, and commissioners contrasted that arrangement with a previously higher $68,000 full-time position and with a separate model that had a $150,000 contract managed through an outside organization.

After discussion and questions, Commissioner Garner moved to approve item 4. A fellow commissioner seconded, commissioners voted by voice and the Chair stated, "That passes 30." The transcript does not record an itemized roll-call; the motion was recorded as carried.

The commission also grouped multiple agenda items for consent, continued item 8 for one week, approved item 9 contingent on Provo City amending its term from 12 to 15 years to match the county, reduced an insurance limit for item 21 from $3,000,000 to $1,000,000 for consent approval, and scheduled closed-session holds for items 22 and 25. The meeting then moved to a brief public-comment period and adjourned.

What happened next: the commission adjourned; the transcript does not record further follow-up steps or a staff report to return to the commission.