McKay Center's upkeep up to UVSC

OREM — The McKay Events Center at Utah Valley State College is in line to receive improvements now that Utah County commissioners have made changes to an interlocal agreement between the school and the county government.

Commissioners voted unanimously on a document that establishes a priority for how excess funds generated by the events center will be spent.

The funds will go first to operating expenses for the building, then to repair, replacement, remodeling, equipment and furniture for the building, then for use toward the county bond on the facility.

The county and UVSC entered the 50-year agreement in 1993, when Utah County incurred a bond of $6 million to help pay for construction of the center. UVSC paid the remaining costs of almost $16 million. The agreement can be terminated before 50 years, but both parties must agree to the termination.

Most recently, in the past two years, the center has started to emerge into greater financial stability and make some revenue, but historically the building has been largely unprofitable.

"Facilities like that aren't a moneymaker," said Utah County Commissioner Steve White. "They're a community resource, pretty much."

According to the interlocal agreement, UVSC is solely responsible for maintaining the building, although the building is required to be available for public use for a percentage of time.

"One of the things the (board of trustees at UVSC) has worked really hard on is to make sure monies are in place to do the proper maintenance on the building and the proper renovations that need to happen," said Val Peterson, vice president for administration and legislative affairs at UVSC.

In addition to outlining a priority for uses of excess funds generated by the building, the amendment changed the ratio of public availability of the building from 40 percent to 32 percent.

An audit of the building's use in 2003 showed the center was used for public functions just more than 40 percent of the time.

According to the agreement, public events are defined as "any scheduled meeting, activity, conference, performance, athletic event, speech, reception or ceremony that is not related to the college or its mission." College games, events, practices or classes do not count as public events.

White said the change in required public availability more accurately reflects the amount of time the public is entitled to, when compared with the amount of money the county has contributed to the facility.

Although the building has mostly not made enough money to pay for its own operations or improvements, county leaders still view the events center as a worthwhile venture.