Clinton's Frisco Conference Center Doing Well
Clinton's Frisco Conference Center in Clinton, OK. is doing quite well and boasts a 25% increase in usage each year since it opened in September, 2003, according to City Manager Grayson Bonham.
The project was begun in 2001 under the former city manager, Bill Galletly, and was financed with a sales tax increase of just over one-half cents. Total costs including furnishings were about $4.0 million, according to Bonham, with just under $1 million in debt now remaining.
The Conference Center name was deliberate, to avoid the name Civic Center which implies "free usage," says Bonham. It has about 20,000 square feet with a center portion and two "wings" which each contain up to three meeting rooms with folding walls, and a large room that can seat up to 450 for sit down dinners. "The meeting rooms stay busy every day of the week and are wired with the latest audio-visual equipment one can buy, plus a nice catering kitchen. The entry hall is great for other events," Bonham said.
"We very much needed this facility; we had no school auditorium, and we used churches to hold banquets. It was politically controversial at the time but everyone now agrees it is a great asset to the city," Bonham said.
A city hotel-motel tax continues to finance the daily operational costs while the sales tax continues to pay down the debt. The referendum to build the facility passed 58% to 42%, Bonham said. Clinton's total sales tax is now at 9.25% including local and state.
The facility took two years to build.
The project was begun in 2001 under the former city manager, Bill Galletly, and was financed with a sales tax increase of just over one-half cents. Total costs including furnishings were about $4.0 million, according to Bonham, with just under $1 million in debt now remaining.
The Conference Center name was deliberate, to avoid the name Civic Center which implies "free usage," says Bonham. It has about 20,000 square feet with a center portion and two "wings" which each contain up to three meeting rooms with folding walls, and a large room that can seat up to 450 for sit down dinners. "The meeting rooms stay busy every day of the week and are wired with the latest audio-visual equipment one can buy, plus a nice catering kitchen. The entry hall is great for other events," Bonham said.
"We very much needed this facility; we had no school auditorium, and we used churches to hold banquets. It was politically controversial at the time but everyone now agrees it is a great asset to the city," Bonham said.
A city hotel-motel tax continues to finance the daily operational costs while the sales tax continues to pay down the debt. The referendum to build the facility passed 58% to 42%, Bonham said. Clinton's total sales tax is now at 9.25% including local and state.
The facility took two years to build.
posted by Editor | 2:41 AM
8 Comments:
GREAT NEWS all we need to get a Frisco Center is raise our sales tax another penny and enact a hotel and motel tax. This is the reason I fear the secret meetings the Blue Ribbon Committee have involked. Remember Blue Ribbon Chairman Brewer says she is not subject to Oklahoma's Open Meeting and Open Record laws. I guess it's because she lives in Joplin Mo.
What the writer above fails to understand is that sometimes you have to make an investment today in order have a benefit returned for many years in the future. Why are many of the folks making comments here, so lacking in business sense? It's like they fold the arms and basically say "no" to any change. If a city (like a business)doesn't change and grow, it dies.
Great, now I'm ignorant because I don't like illegal secret meetings and oppose tax increases. I'm not opposed to change but I would like to see that it was done in the open and not in violation of Open Meeting and Record Laws. I believe in a limited government that taxes the people only when necessary and after careful, open and honest debate. Many citizens have moved to Grove for low utility and tax rates. Under the current administration we have moved to one of the highest tax rates in the State of Oklahoma. It's time for a change.
Mr. Editor, I thank you for your investigative report. I don't think the City of Clinton's needs, then parallel the needs of the City of Grove today. I would still suggest 9.25 sales tax, is to high. I believe a sales tax increase would kill the downtown revitalization project. We will have a pretty downtown area filled with empty buildings. As For a Property tax, we just passed a School bond issue recently.(grove did need that) Why not attempt to time something like an increase one tax as another expires. That might make a little more palatable to the taxpayer. I still think, we will see an increase in growth once the highway is widened. This will mean more revenue. More revenue=more public works?
I don't believe any citizen of this city doesn't want the city to grow and prosper, irregardless of which side of the issues they line up on.
Feel Free to burn me in effigy now.
cato
Absolutely no one in Grove has advocated an increase in the sales tax which is already too high. So why do you bring it up? Maybe an election issue? The swimming pool would be financed with a nominal property tax. The new events center would be funded with sale of the existing center and increased tax revenue from new business. The county is talking about a one cent tax increase to finance a new jail, call your Commissioner on that one.
The Editor
Tax, Tax, Tax, and more Taxes come to Grove!!!!
Gasoline at 2.40 a gallon, Oklahoma hasn't really recovered from the economic slowdown resulting from 9-11 even though the government keeps telling us the economy is better. Alan Greenspan has forecast a recession, and we want to add taxes in Grove. I'm not a dark sider Im a conservative. I want a affordable swimming pool that be great, lets do that when we can afford it. I read the New convention center would be paid for by the sale of the old one, and new business. What new businesses? Will a convention center bring in new businesses? You call Conservatives darksiders I think we should call you the "Know Nothings," or "The Dont Distract Me with Facts Group".
The new business is what will be built on the site of the present Center...a new grocery store, retail shops, Starbucks, and national restaurant chain operation. Not Target, Not K Mart, not Neiman Marcus and Not Macy's. Imagine, the darksiders in Starbucks enjoying their latte's.
The Editor
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