Oregon Public Broadcasting

The manager of the Oregon State Fair, Dave Koellermeier has been asked not to come into work for a while -- following complaints about his conduct during the event, which concluded September 1st. Kristian Foden-Vencil reports.

Chris Havel, a spokesman for the State Parks and Recreation Department, says several complaints were filed about Koellermeier -- both from staff and fair visitors.

Chris Havel: "We've placed Dave Koellermeier on paid administrative leave and we're in the process of hiring an impartial 3rd party investigator to determine the facts and report back."

Havel says that due to the nature of the complaints, the agency won't say exactly what they are until after the investigation.

Koellermeier could not be immediately reached for comment.

Soon after he became manager, he ordered an audit that led to the conviction of an event manager for embezzlement. 

Fair attendance since he started in 2006, has increased by about 14 percent.