Tourism funds athletic events

While requests for tourism tax dollars are increasing, the amount of money available is declining. The tourism tax comes from lodging rentals at hotels, motels and bed and breakfast facilities in Alva.

The Alva Tourism Committee has seen a steady decline in funds in recent years. A budget analysis by the City of Alva shows actual tourism tax collected in fiscal year 2015-2016 was $226,898. The following year it dropped to $198,599. Although the current year doesn't end until June 30, projected tourism tax revenue is $155,763.

Dr. Charles Tucker, a member of the committee, looked at the first quarter 2018 tax collections, which were down about $25,000 from the previous year. He said, "We're looking at about $100,000 a year going backwards, and so our reserves are going to go down fairly quickly."

Golf Tournament

The warning came during the first funding request of Wednesday's meeting. Larry Harmon of the Alva Golf and Country Club asked for up to $6,000 for the Nescatunga Golf Tournament.

Harmon said the tournament has been held since 1952 and played on the course north of Alva since 1956. He said last year the top six events at the golf course attracted 860 golfers. Of those 178 stayed in motels and hotels.

Expenses for events continue to grow, said Harmon, but he admitted they have not raised the entry fee over the past five years.

Tucker, who presided at the meeting in the absence of chairman Norville Ritter, said he enjoys golfing and would be willing to pay more for registration. He encouraged the local golf and country club to raise entry fees from $100 to $125 in the future. Member Connor Martin voiced agreement with that idea.

Eventually the committee voted to approve the full request of $6,000 for a banquet and extra labor for the tournament.

Obstacle Race

Curtis Robinson made his second appearance before the committee Wednesday. Last year he presented his idea for something never done before in Alva, an obstacle race to be held in Hatfield Park.

Robinson gave a detailed report of last year's event, which attracted over 140 entrants. He described the amount of effort put into last year's event. His stockpiling of hay bales and wood for obstacles led one neighbor to ask if he planned to open a lumberyard.

Robinson said he learned a lot from last year's event, and he's hoping to draw even more entrants this fall. His goal is to double last year's number. Committee members were enthusiastic. Tucker commended Robinson on a "phenomenal job" putting the event together. Martin described it as a "great event" and "focused on the future."

Robinson estimates expenses for the event at $15,600. He expects to collect $8,875 from entry fees. He asked the committee for $4,500 to pay for advertising. He expects to find sponsors to help defray other costs.

The committee members unanimously voted to fund the event, which is planned for Sept. 22 in Hatfield Park.

Baseball Tournament

The final funding request was for a high school age baseball tournament to take place June 22-24. Alva High baseball coach Scott Baugh approached the committee last year for help with two tournaments, one for middle school students and another for high schoolers. This year, he's limiting it to high school.

Baugh said he had seven teams signed up. His projected expenses were based on 20 games, but he said now they expected to play 16 which would mean costs would come down. Teams for the tournament were coming from Oklahoma and Kansas. Games were to be held at Crenshaw Field in Alva.

Tucker questioned the request for $3,970, which was almost double what was paid out last year. Baugh said they actually received less than the approved amount because they played fewer games last year. Since they based figures on 20 games and now planned to play 16, he said the amount needed would be less.

The committee pays only on invoices so if fewer umpires, prizes, scorekeepers and gatekeepers were needed, the amount would be less.

Terri Parsons made a motion to fund up to $2,920 for the event. That's an amount she estimated would cover the 16 games. Martin seconded, and the committee voted unanimous approval.

Alva Branding

Mayor Kelly Parker presented a report on the results from the Advertising and Promotions Committee's work with Back2You Marketing. The agency was hired to study Alva and develop "branding" for the city, set up and update a website, and do a promotional video.

Parker explained that "branding" includes a uniform design for Alva in printed and online materials and advertising. Specific type fonts are determined, a logo for the city, and specific colors were decided. He said the color scheme which includes brown, tan, white and red comes from the wayfinding signage being developed for Alva.

Parker accompanied his discussion with a video display showing examples of the Alva logo, type styles and colors. He went on to show how Alva's website and Facebook page are being updated with events like the Nescatunga Arts Festival and the Wings over the Prairie Air Show.

He also passed out a brochure promoting tourism to Alva. Chamber Director Alex Mantz said they hurried to have the brochures ready for welcome bags handed out to pilots arriving for the Air Classic Race last Tuesday. She also applied and received permission to have the brochures placed in Oklahoma tourism centers around the state. Both Parker and Mantz said the brochure will become outdated quickly.

Parker encouraged the committee to check out the website at VisitAlvaOK.com and to like the Facebook page to receive updates on Alva.

Financial Report

At the beginning of the meeting, the committee approved minutes of the last meeting and heard the financial report. Cash in the bank totaled $631,356.27. Deducting amounts approved for various projects and events not yet paid out, the committee had $499,310.27 available for use. That amount will be lowered by the three funding requests approved Wednesday.

See a video of the entire meeting at AlvaReviewCourier.com.