[July 28, 2011] Fair board squares off with 4-Way Tweet Jul 27, 2011 (The Daily Times - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Tensions were high at the Mayes County commissioner meeting Monday as Mayes County Fair Board and Pryor 4-Way Rodeo Association addressed the board about an annual lease agreement. The 4-Way Rodeo Association leases 10 acres of the fairgrounds property for an annual summer rodeo and other events during the year. The fair board and county commissioners have to sign the lease yearly. Kelly Brown, president of the fair board, had asked commissioners to table the agreement in a July 5 commissioner meeting so he could work on revisions to the lease agreement. Brown had expressed concern the county might be held liable for damages because people attending 4-Way events are parking on county property not encompassed in the lease. Monday, the issue seemed to center on the 4-Way's rodeo schedule and sub-leasing the property for fundraising events. Brown told commissioners the fair board has not signed the lease contract. He said the board members will be meeting in August and the lease can be signed then. Brown said he is trying to get a list of rodeo dates when 4-Way will be using the arena. "We do understand there's rainouts," said Brown. Heath Massey, president of 4-Way Rodeo Association, said it has leased the county property for over 70 years. "We can't just pick out dates," he said. "You can't just plan everything for a whole year." District 1 Commissioner Alva Martin asked if 4-Way is putting its own work into the arena at the fairgrounds. Brown said the 4-Way Association has built up the arena and added improvements for 73 years. "They've built everything," he said. Brown said technically, according to the lease agreement, 4-Way is not supposed to sub-lease the property for events other than their own. "We're not opposed to generate more funds," said Brown. "Whoever rents it would have to meet insurance requirements." District 2 Com- missioner Darrell Yoder said his suggestion is to change the contract for the lease. "If someone wants to have a jackpot rodeo out there, make them have insurance," he said. "Generate some funds for the fair board." Massey confirmed when any fundraising event is scheduled, 4-Way members are always present, which would place the event under their insurance coverage. District 3 Com- missioner Ryan Ball suggested 4-Way produce a list of the major events and give it to the fair board. He told the 4-Way representatives to communicate with the board about once a month. "Looks to me like that would be good practice," Ball said. Massey argued that the fair board has a control issue. The fair board uses the arena during the county fair, held in September. The county fair at one time utilized the arena 14 days, but now uses it four days. The fair board also holds a back-to-school event, which was last weekend. Sheriff Frank Cantey, who was sitting in the meeting, said, "If I wanted to hold a team roping, who would I contact?" Brown said anyone wanting to hold a rodeo event at the arena would need to contact 4-Way for scheduling. Yoder said again that the contract needs to be revised to change the sub-lease section of the agreement. "Get your schedules together. We need to work together," said Yoder. "Communication is a big issue with me. We can fix a lot of things if we'd just talk about it." Commissioners voted to table the approval of the lease agreement until the contract is revised. "We'll work through this deal," Yoder said. To see more of The Daily Times or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.pryordailytimes.com. Copyright (c) 2011, The Daily Times, Pryor, Okla. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]