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Council approves Phase 1 contract for Fairgrounds Arena Project; county to fund half
Summary
Spanish Fork Council approved a Phase 1 contract with Barber Company to order and construct the structural shell for a new indoor arena and stall barn at the fairgrounds. Total project cost estimated at $11.2M with Utah County funding half; Phase 2 (interior, site work, utilities) is expected back before the council in May.
The Spanish Fork City Council voted to approve Phase 1 of the Fairgrounds Arena Project and awarded a Phase 1 contract to Barber Company on Feb. 3. Project leads presented a plan to replace or retire the aging "Willie Barn" with a new indoor arena and a new stall barn. Staff said the full project budget is approximately $11.2 million, with Utah County agreeing to fund half of the cost and Spanish Fork paying the remainder from its capital projects fund.
Project staff explained a two‑phase approach: Phase 1 covers ordering and erecting the metal building shells and concrete work (the "skeleton" of the arena and barn) under a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) submitted by Barber Company, with the specific shells priced to lock in steel costs amid rising market prices. Phase 2 will cover interior finishes, bleachers, restroom design, site work and utility upsizing; staff expected to return with Phase 2 details in May for council review.
Staff and the selection committee said Barber Company provided the only RFP response that included a design and a GMP for the buildings; that GMP plus the contract structure (design and construction management percentages captured in the RFP) allowed staff to recommend moving quickly to order buildings to avoid imminent steel price increases. Council members asked about scope: Phase 1 purchases the structural buildings and associated concrete but does not include full interior fit‑out or all site work. Staff said the county will reimburse the city on a quarterly basis and confirmed the county had agreed to the overall cost share.
Council debated schedule and procurement risk; multiple council members supported moving forward to capture metal pricing and to enable the county partnership to proceed. The motion to approve the Phase 1 contract with Barber Company was made by Councilman Took and seconded by Councilman Marshall; the roll call vote was unanimous among recorded votes.
Staff noted the project is intended to increase stall capacity by about 192 additional stalls, improve sightlines and warm‑up areas, and position the facility to attract multi‑day horse shows that generate regional economic impact. Any future adjustments to fees (stall rentals, event fees) would be considered later and brought to council for approval.
