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Travel Board commits $500,000 toward Farrin City livestock/event center; cooperative agreement to follow
Summary
The advisory board voted to commit $500,000 from its special-projects reserve toward rebuilding Farrin City's livestock/event center; staff said a cooperative agreement will tie the city to tourism commitments and shift auditor payback risk to the city if the project is later deemed ineligible.
The Emery County Travel Board approved a $500,000 commitment to Farrin City's agricultural tourism and event center, a replacement facility after a barn fire, while stressing the need for a cooperative agreement to protect county TRT funds.
Staff described the project as a smaller, multiuse facility that would replace the previous barn and allow stock-show and equestrian events year-round. Farrin City reportedly has received a Community Impact Board (CIB) grant (about $2.5 million) and a $500,000 loan and is pursuing insurance proceeds; Travel Board staff said the county previously set aside $1.5 million in surplus for special projects.
Board members pressed for accountability language: staff indicated a cooperative agreement would spell out the tourism purpose for the funds and require the city to repay the county if a state auditor later found the use ineligible. Several members also asked for feasibility and market analyses and emphasized concern over allocating a large portion of the county's surplus to a single project without additional financial details.
After discussion, Speaker 10 moved to commit $500,000 to Farrin's agricultural tourism/event center; the motion was seconded and carried. Staff will draft a formal cooperative agreement and provide the commission with the proposed terms.
Next steps: staff to draft a cooperative agreement that clarifies project scope, performance expectations, repayment terms in the event of later audit disallowance, and reporting requirements; staff will also make available project designs and financial estimates to the board and commission.
