Alva Review-Courier -

The Alva Tourism Committee held a regular meeting Wednesday to consider a funding request from the Alva Mural Society. Chair Melinda Barton opened the meeting with members Terri Parsons, Angelica Brady and Sadie Bier present. Scott Kline was absent.

After minutes of the last meeting were approved, Chamber Executive Director Jodie Bradford-Stevison presented the June financial report prepared by the city. The pooled cash bank account for tourism has a balance of $233,951.83. Investments in certificates of deposit total another $334,181.93.

Barton asked which events have not presented their invoices for payments. The report didn't provide a list, but going from memory Bradford-Stevison believes all have been turned in for June. The committee members were dissatisfied with a lack of information on encumbrances outstanding and paid. They voted to table the financial report to gather more information.

Northwest Mural Fest

Brenda Hood of the Alva Mural Society spoke to the committee about the Northwest Mural Fest planned for Sept. 28-30 on the downtown square and on Oklahoma Boulevard. A few minutes later she was joined by Erin Davis. Last year the fest featured four artists, but this year they have three scheduled. Davis said one is from Texas, one is from Kingfisher and one is from Enid.

Hood said the new murals will be located on Vanilla Bean, Radio Shack and the Police Department buildings. A Mural Fun Run is scheduled for 8 a.m. on Saturday. Artists will sign their art Saturday at 1 p.m. There will be music and food trucks downtown on Friday, coinciding with the Alva High School Homecoming festivities.

Last year, the mural fest was scheduled for the NWOSU Family Day, but that falls on the Big Cruise and Car Show weekend this year. So the mural event was moved to AHS Homecoming weekend instead.

The Northwest Mural Fest requested $6,651.55 to pay artists' fees, wall preparation, advertising and the artists' hotels. With only three artists, this amount is lower than last year's request. Bier made a motion, seconded by Brady, to fund the event not to exceed $6,651.55. The motion passed by unanimous vote.

Committee members had some other questions for the women. Parsons asked if a mural at 4th and Barnes would be painted over. Hood said the murals were intended to last 15 to 20 years. They have been touched up and clear coated, but they can't get the same coating products anymore. Those on walls are showing more deterioration while those painted on panels are lasting longer.

Davis said they are covering some of the paintings with vinyl reproductions. Hood said the Alva Mural Society doesn't have the funds to hire restorers to fix the older murals. On buildings showing deterioration, the building owner and the mural society will decide whether the wall is to be painted over or if efforts will be made to preserve the mural. She added that the mural society accepts donations to help with the murals.

New Application Form

At last month's meeting, the committee decided to update the financial assistance application form and require the forms to be submitted at least 90 days before an event. Barton said she met with Bradford-Stevison to work on the application. She passed out their draft of changes. Barton listed three key changes:

• Applications must be submitted 90 days or more before the event.

• The names and contact information of the planning committee must be listed. This will provide secondary contacts in case the primary contact can't be reached.

• All receipts must be turned in no later than 90 days after the event.

Barton said earlier that the Oklahoma Tax Commission will begin collecting Alva's tourism tax beginning Oct. 1. She thinks that will be a good time start using the new application form. She said Bradford-Stevison will send out letters and emails to those who have submitted applications during the past three years to notify them of the changes. Bier made a motion, seconded by Parsons, to edit and begin using the new application form Oct. 1. The motion carried.

Committee members spent some time looking at sample ads to be used in several state tourism publications. Bradford-Stevison said that Emma Cline is taking a full time position with the Alva schools and her last day is July 31. Kaitlyn Hofen will be taking her place with the Chamber. Changes to the ads need to be made while Cline is still working. Committee members asked for some changes which Bradford-Stevison will pass on to Cline.