Alva Review-Courier -

The Woods County Economic Development Committee (WCEDC) held their quarterly meeting Wednesday noon at Northwest Technology. Chairman Jeremy Eaton opened the meeting with members Dr. Kay Decker, Cale Leeper and Susan Bradford present. Absent were Bo Hannaford, Jack Staats and the recently appointed David Hamil,

After Randy McMurphy’s term expired, Hamil was appointed to that position. Committee members voted to approve his appointment Wednesday. Hamil was unable to attend due to another commitment.

Recap of Donor Appreciation Dinner

The minutes of the September special meeting were approved. WCEDC Executive Director Jeremy Zeller presented the financial report. He said he had $14,550 to be deposited from pledges received. The pledge drive is going well with a couple of increases. The report was approved.

The group discussed the Donor Appreciation Dinner held in early October. The attendance was good considering the Northwestern Foundation alumni dinner was held the same night. A lot of people enjoyed hearing speaker Kenneth Corn from the Oklahoma USDA. Zeller suggested instead of a dinner next year, they hold a less formal meeting with heavy hors d’oeuvres and perhaps give someone from America’s Oasis the opportunity to speak. Decker recommended the date of the event be moved to September or the first week of October for fewer date conflicts. Overall, everyone heard a lot of positive comments from the people who attended.

New Officers

New officers were elected for 2024. Zeller said current officers were Eaton as chairman, McMurphy as vice-chair and Decker as secretary-treasurer. Obviously, a new vice-chair was needed. Decker said there wasn’t much responsibility involved except occasionally signing checks. She asked Bradford about the position, but Bradford was concerned living in Waynoka would cause check-signing difficulty. It was pointed out they could elect someone who wasn’t present. Decker made a motion to elect Staats as vice-chair, seconded by Leeper, and the motion was approved. Then Leeper made a motion to retain Eaton and Decker in their current positions, seconded by Bradford. That motion also carried.

2024 Lt. Governor’s Turkey Hunt

Zeller encouraged committee members to think about whom to invite to the Lt. Governor’s Turkey Hunt. He has already issued several invitations. Decker said they should invite a decision maker from TSET to the hunt. “We’re not getting our fair share of TSET money in northwest Oklahoma,” she said. She’s disappointed that the City of Alva grant application for the swimming pool project was denied.

Decker said they try to highlight the area with swag bags for the hunt. She encouraged the members to think of items made in their area. Bradford suggested beef sticks from Redgates might be appropriate, and Zeller said they would be very popular. About 60 to 70 swag bags are distributed to hunt participants. Decker commented, “It’s a great way for makers to show off their product to a larger audience.”

Zeller said the hunt is tentatively scheduled for April 17-19 but not confirmed yet.

Decker also said they need to identify landowners in the county who will allow hunters on their land. She asked Bradford from Waynoka and Leeper from Dacoma to help identify possible locations in their areas of the county.

Zeller said they definitely want to include a tour of the sand dunes and America’s Oasis in the hunt.

Those planning for the event will meet on Jan. 3. Decker said they need to get some younger leaders involved in the event.

Zeller said, “I think we do it right” referring to the Woods County turkey hunt. He said some of the Lt. Governor’s turkey hunts are alcohol heavy and some are just hunts. Woods County offers tours and other activities. Decker added, “I think we have a good balance.”

Bank Signatures

Zeller said with McMurphy off the committee, currently the WCEDC account at Alva State Bank has only two valid signatures. Usually the three officers are designated, but Zeller suggested having all committee members approved to sign checks. Sometimes it’s difficult to find the required two signatures.

Leeper said he’d be willing to be added. With the addition of Staats as an officer, that would be four people able to sign checks. The committee approved Eaton, Staats, Decker and Leeper as signatories.

Other Discussion

Zeller gave a brief report from the Woods County Industrial Development Authority meeting held earlier that morning. He also expanded on his process of contacting those pledging money to the WCEDC and how he follows up.

As reported in the Friday Alva Review-Courier coverage of the WCIDA meeting, Zeller has been working on the film-friendly project for the county. He said he’d already taken location photos in Freedom and learned how to submit them for addition to the state film website. “They love old buildings, especially vacant ones,” he said.

He said almost anything can be added as long as the property owner gives permission. There should be no cars or people in the photos. Owners can restrict how their property is used such as limiting filmmakers to the outside of the building.

Those with questions or ideas for locations may contact Zeller at his office at Northwest Technology Center in Alva or check the website of okfilmmusic.org. To submit photos to the website, Zeller said to choose “film” from the menu, then industry directory, then locations director, then share your Oklahoma location.

Zeller said having a film crew come to your area has a financial impact through increased sales tax. Building owners may be paid for the use of their location. There are also needs for food and local crew members as well as needs for entertaining the film crew. In some cases, the location can become a travel destination for fans, he said, citing the recent “Flowers of the Killer Moon” film impact.

Decker said in January archeological work will be continuing at the site of the Battle of Turkey Springs to the west and north of Alva. They are working to locate artifacts from the Northern Cheyenne and the cavalry that remain from the 1878 battle. While the date is known, the location has not been validated. They found a dated shell casing under a layer of dirt, she said.

Decker said others have found artifacts but when those are picked up and removed without proper dating and recording, they can’t be validated.