Three agencies submit proposals to book Brown County Fair grandstand entertainment
Three proposals are under review to determine which agency will serve as Brown County Fair entertainment consultant for the next three years.
Proposals from Pepper Entertainment, Romeo Entertainment and Winterset Concert Events were opened and reviewed at Tuesday's Brown County Commission meeting at the courthouse. The agency selected will secure entertainment for grandstand concerts during at the fair each August.
Fair Manager Rachel Kippley opened the bids, which will now be reviewed by the Brown County Fair Board Entertainment Committee.
Pepper Entertainment, which is out of Sioux Falls and Minneapolis, proposed a fee of 8% of the talent fees the first year; 9% the second year and 10% the third year. That talent fee is capped at $30,000 per year.
For comparison, Kippley said, Brown County paid $22,000 for 2019, $24,000 for 2021 and $26,000 for 2022. Grandstand entertainment in 2020 was postponed until 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Romeo Entertainment, based in Omaha, Neb., and Nashville offered two options. The first proposed $29,000 plus expenses for 2023; $31,000 plus expenses for 2024; and $33,000 plus expenses for 2025. Alternatively, Romeo also proposed a fee of $15,000 plus $1 for every ticket sold in 2023; $17,000 plus $1 for every ticket sold in 2024 and $19,000 plus $1 for every ticket sold in 2025.
Winterset Concert Events, based in Nashville, proposed a fee of $20,000 for 2023 and 2024 and $25,000 for 2025. That is in addition to the fee for the director, plus other expenses for lodging, meals, guest passes and a golf cart for use during the fair. Details for the director's fee could not immediately be found in the proposal.
Romeo has booked concerts at the fair for decades.
Commissioners deferred action on the proposals.
Agricultural runoff a concern for Richmond Lake area
In other discussion, commissioners heard from Richmond Lake resident Patty Black Tracy who expressed concerns about water quality in the north bay of the lake and noted specific concerns about agricultural runoff from nearby operations.
Commissioner Mike Wiese, who also serves on the James River Valley Development District Board, said the district might be able to help with the establishment of a holding structure, but cleanup of the lake is a much bigger issue.
Commissioner Dennis Feickert said that while there is agricultural runoff, there's also a tremendous amount of water that flows into the lake from the north.
Commissioners also suggested that Black Tracy reach out to the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
This article originally appeared on Aberdeen News: Three proposals received Brown County Fair entertainment consultant
