Alva Review-Courier -

The City of Alva Tourism and Convention Development Committee scheduled a special meeting to give the Alva Police Department more time to figure out their budget for a fundraising event. The event was first discussed March 20, but questions about the event budget caused the committee to delay action.

Chairman Melinda Barton opened the meeting with members Sadie Bier, Angelica Brady, Terri Parsons and Scott Kline present. City Business Manager Stephen Ford was also in attendance. In the absence of Chamber Executive Director Jodie Bradford-Stevison, Brady kept the minutes of the meeting.

Assistant Police Chief Patrick Hawley presented information on the 3rd Annual Cars, Concerts and BBQ Contest to be held May 3-4 at the Woods County Fairgrounds on the south edge of Alva. The police department lowered their request for funding to $21,530 from the $23,750 asked last week.

Hawley said they just received word that the Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) wants Alva to be their Oklahoma state championship contest. The police department is sending paperwork to the governor’s office to set that up.

After looking at the budget, Hawley said they added some overlooked items to the expense column and removed some from the revenue column. The expenses now totaled $31,530 while revenue was lowered to $12,000 leaving them with a negative balance of $19,530 for the event. Hawley said they’re unsure if they can raise $6,000 in sponsorships since businesses have been hit up by several events recently. While their request for $21,530 in tourism tax dollars would leave them making about $2,000, Hawley pointed out this is their only fundraiser for the year.

Kline asked about revenue from the 5K run and the cornhole tournament, which were included in the previous budget. Hawley said entry fees for the 5K go to the Alva EMS who sponsored that event. Last year Greenleaf Fire Department sponsored the cornhole tournament but had little participation so may not do it this year.

This year the event expects to have 20 teams so the BBQ contest can be sanctioned by KCBS. Hawley said they had two teams from Colorado last year and expect more for this year.

Kline said last year the police department requested $21,750 for the event but the committee reduced that to $16,750. He expressed concern after the committee’s tourism tax budget discussion last week.

Parsons said $4,000 for the concert seemed high and asked about the band. Hawley said it’s the Kenny Feidler Band playing country music, and they’re becoming more recognized.

Other committee members said they were concerned about having enough money in their budget to finish out the year. Barton asked Ford where they stand financially. He said the committee is not over budget but getting close.

Parson suggested they “split the difference” deducting less money from the request than last year. She made a motion to approve $18,000 for the event with Brady seconding. The motion passed by unanimous vote.