Alva Review-Courier -

Although groundbreaking did not occur as hoped in June, plans are still on track for the Alva arena project. In a meeting Tuesday noon, trustees of the Alva Arena Authority learned about some hitches in studies and paperwork that have slowed financing approval. Another big problem is the moving target on construction materials pricing. It’s difficult to get bids pinned down when companies have to guess at prices for materials in the future.

Chairman Gregg Glass presided over the meeting with trustees Darin Slater, Mike Hood, Dr. Janet Cunningham, Dr. Charles Tucker, Darrel Kline and Todd Holder present. Sonja Williams, assistant secretary for the organization, was there to keep the minutes. Woods County Economic Development Director Neal Williams also attended.

In the treasurer’s report, Holder said the authority has $144,308.22 in the bank. However he just signed checks of $3,295 for the financial audit and $250 for the financial statement.

Holder directed the group’s attention to the audit for the year ended June 2020 by Kimberlye R. Mayer, CPA, P.C. of Blackwell. Since there haven’t been a lot of transactions, the audit report is only a few pages long.

Much of the meeting was held in executive session as trustees discussed the remaining steps to finalize financing. Once that is in place, it’s hoped the project will pick up momentum.

Following return to open session, the trustees approved a motion made by Hood and seconded by Cunningham to continue with the feasibility study and further action to pursue the guaranteed loan.

Holder said, “I would encourage board members to go back to their respective partners for a re-up of what’s going on and where we’re at so that they understand where the project is.” Several entities and individuals have made future commitments toward the project.

There were no sub-committee reports but Holder encouraged trustees, particularly those on the management and operations committee, to attend events and venues within traveling distance of Alva to “try to figure out what we need to be doing and where we might be able to snap onto an event coordinator that might be willing to come to the best place in the world to live.”