Garfield County commissioners will seek funding for a $1.25 million equestrian and civic center.
Commission Chairman Tom Hatch told the Garfield County Travel Council commissioners will seek a $750,000 loan from the Community Impact Board. The loan would be repaid over 25 years at 3 percent interest.The loan could be repaid with funds from the state's payments in lieu of taxes. The county has collected money for many years from the federal government for those lands in Garfield County that are not on the tax rolls, but the state hasn't provided its share of the funding.
The county is expected to receive upwards of $150,000 annually after the Utah Legislature provided for such payments as a result of lobbying by counties last year.
The Garfield commission has also asked the travel council to consider funding $200,000 for the center. The council gets a substantial amount each year from transient room taxes, spending well over $300,000 for tourist promotion, and reportedly has a contingency fund of $216,000.
Costs won't stop with construction, however. The travel council has also been asked to provide up to $20,000 annually to help pay for maintenance and operation of the center.
Panguitch officials have offered to donate water and sewer hookups and the county will provide excavation, inspection and part of the engineering expenses. Fencing has been pledged by the Panguitch Homecoming Committee.
Panguitch isn't the first city in south-central Utah to explore building an equestrian and civic center, and Garfield County will save about $250,000 on initial costs by adopting plans that were used for a center in Salina, Sevier County, Hatch reported.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony and other events will mark the opening of the Salina Center on New Year's Eve.
Officials believe the Garfield County center could be used for concerts and conventions.
The 50,000-square-foot building will seat 2,000 people in the arena, which will measure 123 by 274 feet.
Officials said the facility will meet standards of the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association and Quarterhorse Association. It will host Utah farrier events, horse shows, auctions, contests and other equestrian and civic events.