PORTERSVILLE — The Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau has approved handing over control of the Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival to the Jeep Festival Committee.

However, the move requires approval by the bureau’s board and its solicitor.

The recommendation was made Thursday by board member Clayton Findon to proceed with the transition in “good faith.” The next step will be for the bureau’s board to meet with the solicitor to finalize a contract that will give the committee the ability to plan the event.

Jack Cohen, president of the bureau, said an ad hoc committee was put together to plan for the transition.

Cohen said it has always been the intention of the bureau to help build the event and then pass the event over within five years to another entity.

“When we started this five years ago, really six years ago, we had always known that we were never going to be the one to run the event,” he said.

Cohen said the festival is the only event the bureau operates. With events such as the Lake Arthur Regatta, the bureau helps with the marketing and promotion of the events. Some board members volunteer at the events if needed.

Cohen said the committee is comprised of volunteers that have worked on the event for five years. The group will establish its own structure and appoint it own members without input from the bureau.

The bureau believes the committee is the logical group to take over the event, Cohen said. The most important things are that it is maintained, successful and remains in Butler County, he said.

“Whatever happens we want to make sure the event is successful forever,” Cohen said. “We always want to make sure that event is successful. That is our background and you don’t just drop something off and say ‘see ya’ ... We look at that as our baby, because that is what it was and we have grown it up.”

Once the criterion is set up and planned how everything is going to transition from the bureau to the committee, it will become public, Cohen said.