SALEM – Oregon State Fair Manager Dave Koellermeier has been placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation into complaints about his behavior during the fair.

The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, which oversees the fair, has hired an outside consultant to investigate complaints about Koellermeier made by fair employees and others, said Chris Havel, spokesman for the department.

Havel said to ensure a fair investigation, the department is not releasing information about the nature of the complaints.

“Generally, for personnel matters, we are very careful about what we discuss,” Havel told the Capital Press. He said further information won’t become available until the investigation is complete.

“There are going to be more questions than answers at this time,” he said.

Capital Press could not reach Koellermeier for comment.

Koellermeier, 56, became the fair manager in 2006, after the Oregon Legislature voted to place the fairgrounds and exposition center under the supervision of the state parks department. He had previously worked for private firms, including 15 years as an executive at Ralston Purina. His current-year salary is scheduled to be $97,000.

The department hired Koellermeier to replace the fair’s previous administrator, Katie Cannon.

“We knew we needed to take the fair in a new direction and that required new leadership,” Havel said.

Soon after he became manager, Koellermeier and the parks department ordered an audit that led to an police investigation of then-state fair employee Debbie Gorski, who was later convicted of embezzlement. Gorski had been the events and sales manager for the state fair.

Koellermeier set about revamping the fairgrounds by improving its bookkeeping system, taking down old buildings to cut maintenance costs and launching new entertainment venues.

Since he was hired, attendance has increased about 14 percent, to 361,000 visitors during the 2008 event, which took place Aug. 22 to Sept.1, said Connie Bradley, head of marketing and business development for the fair.

A redevelopment master plan for the fairgrounds, which will include a park-like boulevard through the center of the property, was also completed under Koellermeier’s supervision.

Koellermeier also runs a farm near Wilsonville, Ore., where he raises feeder cattle, sheep, cherries and Christmas trees.

Koellermeier is also on the board of directors of the Agri-Business Council of Oregon, a non-profit organization that promotes agriculture and agribusiness in the state.