News Analysis--Hospital PR Releases

Expect to see a lot of medical articles in the coming weeks on the front page of the Grove Sun Daily, as the local hospital public relations office preps the public for the $1 million tax donation from the city for a new hospital.
One such article appeared Monday in the Sun Daily, "Hospital Foundation Gives Back to the Community." It talked about a program begun nine years ago to provide defibrillators for every school in Delaware and Ottawa counties and how it saved lives.
The article was accompanied by a photo of three persons who survived cardiac arrest incidents and was obviously pulled from a hospital filing cabinet and recycled with the article.
The bad news is that one of the persons in the photo had died some time ago, forcing the Sun Daily to issue a front page Apology in Wednesday's edition. The family of the deceased person must have been sorely upset at the photo, which identified the man as surviving a cardiac arrest incident, which at one time he had, but had since passed away.
The second bad news is this is what happens when a PR department gets so full of itself and fails to check the facts before putting out a news release and photo to an unsuspecting reporter.
Newspapers don't have the resources to fact check every PR release that gets dumped on the desk and they depend on professional PR people for accuracy.
But here at The Observer we can relax---the local hospital has refused for two years to send us any of their news releases. We might ask too many questions.

DA's Office Cites Law to County Commissioners

A move by Delaware County Commissioners Monday to hire an Oklahoma City law firm which specializes in legal consultation for setting up a TIF (tax increment financing) district was averted on the advice of the District Attorney's office.

Nick Lelecas, assistant district attorney for Delaware and Ottawa counties, asked that the matter be no actioned, citing State Statute 62-855 which first requires the governing body to appoint a review committee to review and make a recommendation concerning the proposed district.

The committee is required to be made up of a representative of the governing body, who serves as chairperson; a representative of the planning commission; a representative of each taxing district whose ad valorem taxes might be impacted; and three members of the public at large to be selected by the other committee members from a list of seven names submitted by the chairperson.

All meetings of the review committee would be subject to the Open Meetings Act and Executive Sessions could be held if necessary. At least two public meetings would be held, under the act.

In attendance at the meeting were Grove City Manager Bruce Johnson and Mayor Gary Bishop. Johnson told the commissioners that he had previous experience at setting up a TIF district and could offer advice if requested. Commissioner Ken Crowder said "we just wanted to look into it." Commissioner Dave Kendrick said phase One of the law firm's study would cost $25,000. One source said that Peter Boylan, who is developing the Peninsula Resort on Monkey Island, had suggested hiring the Center for Economic Development Law in Oklahoma City to develop the plan. Johnson said the key was "would the project happen with, or without, the TIF?" Kendrick said that Boylan would pay for the study if the project were not advanced.

A TIF district in Oklahoma City that helped finance the Bricktown development went to a vote of the people, Janet Warford-Perry, told the group, and she cited the Great Plains Airline debacle in Tulsa as one that did not go to a vote of the people.

The law firm cited several economic development projects in Oklahoma utilizing tax increment financing, including the OU Health Science Center, the Oklahoma Health Center Economic Development Project, Oklahoma City's Downtown Central Business District Redevelopment Program, and the Oklahoma City MAPS project downtown, the OU Campus Corner project, Shawnee Downtown Revitalization Project, and economic development projects in Guymon and Durant.

P&Z Board Recommends Public Hearings on Building Heights

The Grove Planning & Zoning Board will hold a series of public hearings very soon to get input on changing the current city codes on building height restrictions. The vote was 3-0 taken at this week's meeting held Tuesday afternoon.

City Manager Bruce Johnson endorsed the move, stating "perfect, very good stuff." Also endorsing it was Mo Parker, City Planner.

Board member Bob Brogdon said it would be foolish to endorse new six-story condo's without a plan. "We need input from the public to determine what is appropriate for Grove, then get the ordinances in place, then issue building permits, not the reverse," he said. "We need to look at the basic structure--codes, fire protection, city water, sewer and gas needs, parking, EMS access, egress to streets, traffic control, and determine where high-rise structures are appropriate, and where they are not appropriate."

Judith Read said she endorsed all of that and asked "What do we want Grove to look like in the future? Let's follow the rules and regulations and get the proper permits."

Chairman Bettie Kardos-Bishop, who is retiring from the board this month after 11 years of service, said she echoed these sentiments.

Brogdon made the motion to recommend that City Council not make any changes at this time and that the P&Z Board hold a series of public hearings immediately on a plan for high rise structures and where they should be located.

Both Brogdon and Read praised Bishop for her years of service. "She has no personal agenda and has done a great job and I hope we can get someone just as good to replace her," Read said. She added "it would be nice if the local newspapers would cover these meetings, someone besides The Grove Observer." The Observer was the only media source at the meeting.

There are now two openings on the P&Z Board, since Norma Halterman resigned August 16.

Cornell Wins Commissioner Race

Billy R. Cornell was elected Delaware County Commissioner District 2 with 64% of the vote over Janet Warford-Perry, who received 35.9% in Tuesday's election, according to unofficial county election board figures.

Perry carried both Grove precincts and the Zena precinct where she lives, but not by enough margin to overcome Cornell's showing in Jay and the south county area. (In 1907, Jay voters turned out in higher numbers than Grove and moved the county seat to Jay as a result) Straight party voting came to 71% for Democrat, 28% for Republican.

Cornell received 717 votes, Perry 402, for a total of 1119. There are 8,975 registered voters in District 2 precincts, which means only 12.8% turned out. (A higher percentage of Iraqis voted in elections in early 2007.)

New Street Lights Being Installed

Grove's Downtown Revitalization Phase One is nearing completion this week with the installation of the antique looking street lights; sometime soon the new trees will go in and Phase One will be completed.

Cornerstone Church Rescinds Sales Offer

The board of Elders and Trustees of Cornerstone Church in Grove has voted to rescind any and all offers to consider entertaining and/or selling the facilities and property.

In a letter to Connie Brewer, chairperson of the Blue Ribbon Committee, Pastor Bill Lay said "it was never our intent to put our facilities 'on the market'--we have been approached about selling but never gave it any consideration."

"The only reason we considered it this time was because we saw the value this would bring to the Grove community. It seemed to represent a 'win-win' situation for us and the community. New city offices, theater, and aquatic park, in one location…would have been wonderful for Grove."

"It was a valiant effort for a noble cause which should have gone beyond partisan politics," Lay said. "I want to thank you and the Blue Ribbon Committee for all the work which you put forth in attempting to provide the Grove community with an outstanding opportunity," he said in his letter.

The Blue Ribbon Committee presented its final recommendations to City Council in July, which were met with deafening silence. Councilman Larry Parham said the numbers presented in the study were incorrect and the true cost of a new community center was beyond the city's capability at this time. He also said a new swimming pool could be built for around $1.3 million and he hoped that would be accomplished within a year.

The Committee had proposed purchasing Cornerstone Church, adding seats to the auditorium, remodeling the building for banquets, meetings, and other events; adding a 50,000 square foot building for large events like the Boat Show; selling the current Civic Center; and building a new pool near the Church location.

City Attorney Candidates File Proposals

Five candidates for city attorney have submitted their proposals to City Hall as of the deadline Tuesday. Former City Attorney Ron Cates resigned August 21 upon learning that City Council would actively seek new applicants for the job.

New applicants include Logan & Lowry, Grove; Johnny P Akers, Bartlesville; Gregory J. Crawford, Grove; The Hartley Law Firm, Vinita; and Ken Gallon, Miami.

Logan & Lowry, specifically Dave Jones and Donna Smith, spent a year fighting the city in their legal representation of the Grove Municipal Airport Trust Authority Board, in 2006, over the issue of who owned title to the airport property.

Poll Results

In last week's Observer we asked our readers: Should $1 million in tax money be given by the city to the Integris Hospital Corporation to build a new $58 million hospital in Grove.

Results:
Yes--29%
No---71%

Girls Volleyball Registration Open

Girls 10 to 14 years of age can begin signing up for youth volleyball at the YMCA .
The volleyball program is intended to teach basic volleyball skills and techniques. Each player will receive a jersey and participation award. Knee and elbow pads are not required but are recommended.
Registration runs through September 28 with practices starting the first week of October. Games will begin the week of October 15.
Cost is $25 for YMCA members and $35 for non-members.
For more information contact the YMCA at 786-5774 or drop by the facility at 206 Elk in Grove right behind Pizza Hut.

YMCA Football Underway

Registration is now underway at the YMCA for Youth Flag football for boys and girls four to seven years old.
According to YMCA executive director Butch Christy, the objective of this program is to teach basic football skills in a safe, fun and controlled environment.
The programs begins on September 25 and all equipment is provided. Parent participation is required at the four and five year old level. Volunteer coaches are welcome and needed.
Pre-registration is required and runs through September 21.
Cost is $25 for YMCA members and $35 for non-members.
For more information contact the YMCA at 786-5774 or drop by the facility at 206 Elk.