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Millard County OKs $20,000 Economic‑development Contract with Six County; Commissioners Seek Quarterly Updates
Summary
The Millard County Commission approved a one‑year, $20,000 agreement to access economic‑development services from Six County (R6), contracting specifically for work by consultant Abby Ivory. Commissioners pressed for clearer deliverables, quarterly updates and measurable short‑term milestones before committing to future years.
The Millard County Commission voted to approve a one‑year economic‑development services agreement with Six County (R6) that funds R6 to assign consultant Abby Ivory to provide deliverables for Millard County at a cost of $20,000.
The contract, presented to commissioners as an annual, renewable agreement, was described by proponents as matching the county’s previous level of spending for outside economic‑development support and intended to replace a prior Stewart & Patrick contract. The county’s Meet A (META) Board recommended the shift to R6 and Ivory, listing five priorities and associated measurements that the board expects Ivory to complete and report on during the contract period.
Commissioners emphasized they want measurable progress well before the contract’s one‑year end. One commissioner said they did not want to “get to the end of the year and be like, ‘were working on it,’ ” and asked for earlier milestones and regular reporting. Another commissioner asked whether R6 would add a contractual requirement that R6 or Ivory provide quarterly, county‑specific updates; county staff confirmed the R6 agreement requires reporting to the META Board, and said a quarterly update provision could be added to the contract.
Supporters told the commission Ivory has already produced marketing materials and has helped the county respond to state requests for proposals (RFPs), increasing the county’s exposure to potential projects and leads. Advocates also said Ivory’s regional connections and grant‑writing experience could help secure outside funds. The Meet A Board and county staff said the $20,000 price was negotiated down from an initial R6 proposal that had been much higher.
Skeptics argued the county has previously contracted for economic development with little long‑term success and urged caution. Commissioners discussed contract mechanisms to ensure accountability, including attaching deliverables, specific measurements, and a one‑year term with the ability to terminate or renegotiate if expected value is not delivered.
The commission voted on a motion to approve the economic‑development services with Six County/R6 and to proceed with the contract for the year; the motion passed on a voice vote.
