NEW PENS AND CHUTES NEEDED AT THE FAIRGROUND • Commissioners heard that new pens and chutes need to be completed by April 29th to accommodate the Juab High School rodeo. Above, in spite of the bad weather, support beams are going up for the new seats on the east side of the arena

By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent

New pens and chutes need to be in place under the new bleacher sections in time for the high school rodeo April 29.
For that reason, Clint Painter, commissioner; Jamie Garrett, county events coordinator; and Lisa Brough, a member of the advisory committee, discussed the problem with the full commission on Tuesday.
The commission was shown a few drawings of the arena with the new seating and the area where the chutes and pens would be added.
"We have talked to a lot of users of the rodeo arena," said Painter. ""The placement on the drawings is best for all people."
Glenn Greenhalgh, county planning director, Brent Boswell, county economic development director; Dan Woodland, high school rodeo club advisor; Zeak Woodland; Lex Nielson; Brady Taylor and Natalie Park, are the other members of the committee.
"It takes six to eight weeks to have the chutes and pens fabricated," said Painter. "The reason we are here today is to present a proposal that we waive the sealed bid process."
Competitive bids were suggested, rather than sealed bids, he said. But if commissioners did not want to do it that way, he would call for sealed bids.
On that basis, bids were requested and two were received. Whether or not they could be accepted depended on the votes of Byron Woodland, commissioner, and Rick Carlton, commission chairman.
In the county purchasing policy, in sub-part C5—Use of and procedures for competitive sealed proposals in lieu of bids, it outlines when such bids may be used.
They may be used: "When the commission determines in writing in a public meeting that the use of competitive sealed bidding is either not practicable or not advantageous to the county, a contract may be entered into and/or a purchase made by competitive sealed proposal."
In case the new bleachers, chutes and pens could not be completed in time for the high school rodeo, the Spanish Fork venue had been reserved. However, with 600 participants in the rodeo, it was economically advisable to try and get the work done.
"The high school rodeo usually attracts over 600 participants," said
"We can legally do this," said Jared Eldridge, county attorney.
Painter said that the commission needed to make the change in writing and, so if they both agreed, the change and reasons for it would need to be in writing.
Mike Seely, county administrator, said that he thought the minutes of the meeting would fulfill that requirement. In addition, if it was necessary to hurry the building process along, a sealed bid process would take too long.
It takes at least a month to complete the required process because the bid must be advertised for 30 days before the bids can be accepted. Then they are opened and reviewed.
With the competitive bid procedure, said Seely, the bids could be reviewed and one could be accepted. The bidder could begin immediately upon being notified.
"I can't see any reason why it will not work," said Seely.
Sealed bids are often used for high ticket items and those making contracts with bidders make certain that the lowest bidder is both responsive and responsible.
Before the bid is awarded the agency seeking the bid determines whether the contractor has the facilities, quality-assurance and financial backing to complete the project.
Another legal requirement was that the decision be made in open meeting. That was why, said Painter, he had placed the item on the agenda.
Haste was needed if the chutes and pens were to be in place for the high school rodeo in April.
Priefert and WW Rodeo and Livestock both submitted bids which were presented to the council by Painter.
"We had an assumption that the project would cost a certain amount," said Painter. "The bid by Priefert is $25,000 less expensive than our estimate which was more than $100,000."
The total project will cost $84,558.64 if the bid from Priefert is accepted, he said.
Priefert has an excellent reputation, said B. Woodland. In fact, he usually buys from them.
The company advertises as providing the official equipment of the PBR and the NFR.
Painter said that the bid from WW Rodeo and Livestock was a bit lower in price, but the difference in the projected life of the equipment made Priefert the better choice.
"The one would last 20 years," said Painter. "Priefert will last 40 years."
B. Woodland said that he was willing to make a motion to award the bid to Priefert as long as the bid process used was legal.
Eldridge assured him that what they were proposing was legal.
Carlton said that he could support that action and agreed that the bid should be awarded to Priefert.