County events complex receives loan

The Sweetwater County Events Complex received a $200,000 loan from the Sweetwater County commissioners Tuesday morning, shoring up finances that have taken a hit from the loss of two summer RV events.

The request was approved with three votes. Commissioner Jeffery Smith abstained from the vote and Commissioner Lauren Schoenfeld was absent from the meeting. Despite those three votes, commissioners were reluctant to immediately motion for a vote, with several seconds of silence occurring between Commissioner Randy Wendling’s call for a motion and Commissioner Roy Lloyd and Commissioner Wally Johnson making and seconding the motion respectively.

Johnson said he seconded the motion with the understanding other organizations will likely approach the county for help.

“We’re at a point ... we’ve basically run out of money,” Larry Lloyd, executive director of the events complex, said.

Larry Lloyd said the amount of money the complex would have had has “gone south” amid two high-profile event cancellations the complex announced last week. The International Newmar Kountry Klub RV Rally was canceled last week, along with the previous cancellation of the Escapees RV Club’s 60th Annual Escapade. While the Escapees event was originally scheduled in June, the Newmar rally was set to take place in late August, after the Sweetwater County Fair.

“We don’t believe at this particular moment that we’ll be able to (host) the fair,” Larry Lloyd said.

He said the issue comes down to the governor’s office making recommendations for online 4-H shows, which the complex can’t build events around as well as keeping social distancing requirements.

An email asking about the future of the 2020 fair was not responded to as of press time.

“It’s an odd year for us,” Larry Lloyd said. “The well is drying up.”

While the motocross track has opened and the complex is looking into hosting horse shows, social distancing requirements limit the number of people who can be involved with either activity.

Roy Lloyd, who serves as the commissioners’ liaison to the events complex, said the idea of providing the complex with a line of credit developed the evening before the commissioners’ meeting Tuesday.

The county has provided the complex a no-interest loan in the past, when it wanted to purchase tent structures for use during the National High School Finals Rodeo and county fair. However, Roy Lloyd said the county is facing a downturn of its own.

“Finances are tight for us too,” Roy Lloyd said.

The complex has $230,000 in cash on hand, through Larry Lloyd said the amount would either last them a day or a couple of months depending on what the complex was working on. He said all part time and seasonal help have been laid off, while keeping the full time staff. He said his main goal is to not lay off any full time workers while maintaining a high level of service.

Another issue the complex has run into is declines in sponsorship money, which only contributes to its funding problems.