Alva Review-Courier -

In a special meeting held Tuesday morning at the Northwest Technology Center, the board of the WCIDA voted to name former mayor Stan Kline to a new “at large” position on the board. The number of board members remain the same, but the seat was previously specified to be filled by a member of the Alva Industrial Foundation. That organization inactive, so the bylaws were changed to make it an “at large” position. Kline fills the position previously occupied by Mike VanLandingham.

Others on the board are Chairman Rick Cunningham, Bryce Benson, Randy McMurphy and Richard Ryerson.

Sonja Williams, executive director, said she was able to get some relief from the Waynoka Industrial Foundation on minimum utility charges for the unoccupied incubator building in Waynoka owned by the WCIDA. The savings will amount to about $100 per month. The utilities need to remain on if the building is to be shown. If the building is rented, then the fees will return to normal and be paid by the tenant. She said there is some interest in the building by a firm that is “ag-related.”

Williams also stated the Avard Rail Park has completed the steps for BNSF certification. Ardmore has the only other BNSF certified rail site in Oklahoma. She said one more inspection will be handled during the Lt. Governor's Turkey Hunt April 13. The WCIDA believe the certification will greatly enhance attractiveness of the rail park because it will be named in BNSF promotional efforts.

The business incubator previously located on the NWOSU campus has moved. It first went to SWOSU in Weatherford, but now has been moved to High Plains Vo-Tech in Woodward and is managed by Lisa Hughes.

A minor one-word correction in the lease with the Alva Airport Authority was approved. In other quick action the minutes of the previous meeting were approved, as were the financial statements. Williams reported that Cory Blackledge is current on the $1,000 monthly lease payments of the commercial building in the Westlakes Addition. Also, the WCIDA has completed repairs to the garage doors as agreed. The only change in the financial statement was the payment of an $8,850 pledge to the WCEDC.

Sonja Williams reminded the board members that the Lt. Governor's Turkey Hunt will be at Baker's barn on April 12 and 13, and emphasized they needed to attend to meet with the approximately two dozen guests invited.