The Alva City Council meeting was well attended Monday night. All council members were present, and about 20 people were in the audience. A dozen or more of those were gathered to show support for the gap funding sales tax note for the swimming pool.

Before discussion on the pool funding, the agenda called for public remarks and inquiries, limited to two minutes per speaker. Three people, all advocates for the swimming pool funding, made remarks.

First was Christy Vickers, one of the founders of the Friends of Play organization. Friends of Play have raised $115,000 over the years to upgrade play equipment in Hatfield Park. They have also pledged $24,500 toward the Kimley-Horn master plan for Hatfield Park. Vickers is also a member of the city's swimming pool committee. She spoke about the benefits of a pool for Alva youth including learning to swim. She also talked about the pool attracting people from other towns.

Melinda Barton stepped to the podium next. She read from a statement prepared by her husband Paul Barton who has served on each of the three pool committees since 2019. He explained the swimming pool falls within the guidelines for economic development for the half-cent sales tax that has been used to pay off the Alva Recreation Complex. That can now be used to pay off the bond being considered. He said delaying the gap funding will delay construction of the pool which will face rising costs.

Alysson Penco, a member of the pool committee, spoke briefly. She said the members of the committee aren't always in agreement. But she said there's one thing they've never doubted, one thing they agree on – Alva needs a swimming pool.

The council then considered approving a resolution to incur indebtedness by the Alva Economic Development Authority (AEDA) issuing its Sales Tax Revenue Note, Series 2023. The total payoff of the note is $1.675 million to be completed Oct. 1, 2038.

Mayor Kelly Parker said the city went out for bids on the note and received two. The one from Mid-First Bank did not meet the bid requirements because it did not include a provision for no penalty for early payoff. The interest rate quoted was 5.7 percent.

Alva State Bank and Trust Company included the early payoff provision in their bid with an interest rate of 5.35 percent so they were the only eligible bidder.

Parker explained this is not a new tax. This half-cent sales tax has been in place since 1999 and overseen by the AEDA. This tax revenue was used to pay for the construction of the Alva Recreation Complex which was paid off in 2021 or 2022. That sales tax is currently unencumbered but it cannot be used in the city's general fund or in the utility fund. It must be used for economic development and the swimming pool qualifies.

Daniel Winters made a motion, seconded by Gail Swallow, to approve the resolution.

Troy Brooks asked if there were any restrictions on early payoff. Chris Gander with BOKF, the trustee for the note, said early payoff can happen at any time. There are no restrictions.

Joe Parsons asked if any pool donations not earmarked could go toward payoff. Gander said the resolution pertains only to the note. Parsons indicated he'd like to make sure the note is paid off before the city considers adding anything beyond the current project.

Mayor Parker and City Business Manager Steve Ford both said the pool committee capped the project at $5 million. Parker said he would support saying that undesignated donations go to early payoff of the debt. He said the bid specifications that will go out include alternates which can be added if base bids come in lower than $5 million.

Council members asked about amending the motion currently on the floor, but City Attorney Drew Cunningham said his opinion is that since the motion was seconded, they should vote on the motion. If it doesn't pass, then a new motion can be made.

Parker reminded the council that a 75 percent majority of six votes is required for passage of this resolution. Brooks, Parsons and Taylor Dowling all voted no for a 5-3 outcome causing the first motion to fail.

Winters then made a new motion adding any unrestricted grants and donations first be used to pay down debt before adding to the project. Garrett Lahr seconded, and this time the motion passed 7-1 with Brooks casting the only no vote.

Parker said the city probably will be going out for bids on the pool this week.

Marione Martin

During a public tour in 2020, the Swimmng Pool Committee showed how much the pool has deteriorated. This is a view of the pump house under the north end of the pool where the roof sagged and equipment was corroded and cracking.

A video of the Alva City Council meeting may be viewed at http://www.AlvaReviewCourier.com by clicking on the Video tab.