HomeMy WebLinkAbout1990.03.14_OEDA MinutesJ
OWASSO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
MARCH 14, 1990
O.E.D.A. CONFERENCE ROOM, 301 W. SECOND AVE., 12:00 NOON
1. CALL TO ORDER
Alan Anderson called the meeting to order.
2. ROLL CALL
Present: Alan Anderson Brenda Lawrence
Tom Kimball Patricia Marlar
Absent: Bill Retherford Janice Fields Stacy Lamb
Frank Enzbrenner
Staff
Present: Richard Hall Sherry Lambert Jim Ablett
3. CONSIDERATION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR FEBRUARY 14,
1990 MEETING.
Tom Kimball made a motion to approve the minutes of the regular
February 14, 1990 meeting. Brenda Lawrence seconded the motion.
Aye: 4
Nay: 0
Carried: 4 -0
4. CONSIDERATION TO APPROVE WARRANTS.
Patricia Marlar made a motion to approve the warrants in the
amount of $547.27. Tom Kimball seconded the motion.
Aye: 4
Nay: 0
Carried: 4 -0
5. DISCUSSION OF BREAKFAST.
Jim Ablett reported that everything is set and ready to go and Tom
Kimball reported that he received the publicity information out of
Washington and they told him they had already sent the information
once, but when they read the address to him they had Tulsa for the
city instead of Owasso. Tom also told the board that the
dignitary list is finished and that Mayor Patricia Marlar was
inviting all the regional Mayors at their expense and we will try
to set them up in one group.
OEDA Director's Report
March 14, 1990
Page 2
I had lunch with Larry Stevenson of Tulsa Cable Television on
February 15th to visit about the E.I.N. program. Tulsa Cable was
a contributor last year and last week the O.E.D.A. received a
contribution of $2,000 for FY 1989 -90.
C.E. TOOLING
I visited with Al Cole of C.E. Tooling earlier this week and
the status of his complaint remains unchanged. As I told you last
month in my report, the Oklahoma Tax Commission has a court case
pending before an administrative law judge that is very similar to
Mr. Cole's complaint. That case should be heard in one or two
months. Despite his grievance, Mr. Cole said that he will probably
be moving machinery into the Owasso building in April.
In a related matter, I have attached a memo from the
Department of Commerce that explains that there have been some
"misunderstandings" about the ad valorem tax program. The memo is
quite timely and speaks to the problem that Mr. Cole and C.E.
tooling have experienced.
APARTMENTS
I received a phone call on February 15th from Ty Hogan, a
local real estate agent. We discussed the location of Owasso
apartment properties and I looked up five properties on county
data base for him. He came by the office the next week and I gave
him zoning maps, county maps property information from the county
database. Ty said that he would consult with his clients about
purchasing a property and developing it multifamily. I later talked
by phone with his client, Jerry Augustin of Wichita, Kansas. Jerry
wanted more information about local apartment complexes: the number
of units, addresses, rental rates, and local apartment builders.
He also asked for support from local leaders for construction of
new apartments. I visited with Mayor Marlar, Alan Anderson and Jim
Ablett about writing letters of support for the apartment to Jerry.
I sent the information and letters to Mr. Augustin on March 9th.
SANITARY SYSTEMS MANUFACTURING, INC.
Roy Fickle of Sanitary Systems Manufacturing, Inc. came to
the office on March 7th to ask about the availability of land for
his plastics fabrication shop. He is considering moving the shop
from Tulsa, or he will have to enlarge the existing shop. He lives
in Owasso as do many of his employees. We discussed the former
Burl's tire shop and the house south of the First Bank. I wrote a
fact sheet for the Burl's property from information that I had in
the office and I called the realtor of the property as well to
OEDA Director's Report
March 14, 1990
Page 3
check on the validity of the information. Mr. Fickle picked up the
fact sheet on March 9th and we discussed the residential property
as well. Mr. Fickle manufactures plastic lids for dumpsters and
poly carts and he makes other items from plastics such as sky
lights. He is also a former partner of the Water Products Company
in Owasso and he mentioned several other business ventures. He
asked if the O.E.D.A. could help finance the business if he moves
it here.
BARBEQUE
Leroy Bolinger came by the office on March 9th to discuss his
Pit Barbeque property which is for sale. He asked if I had any
inquiries about restaurant property. He said that the land is
26,000 sq. ft. with a building is 2,300 sq. ft. He told me all
about the business and the property for which he $165,000. He said
that he will partially carry a note and that he will sell the
property with or without the restaurant equipment or lease the
building for $1,000 net on a 5 to 7 year lease. The barbeque
restaurant business is now closed and the property has been listed
by Stepping Stones Realty.
INQUIRY BY MARK ENTERLINE
Mark Enterline has petitioned the Planning Commission for
rezoning to build a car wash on his property on 86th St. N. west
of 129th East Avenue. He is proposing to build the facility near
a drainage way that was recently modified in the widening of 86th
Street. The property must be rezoned, platted and a site plan and
a building permit approved before construction may begin. A creek
floodplain must be considered in the development proposal. Mark
has asked for my comments of the carwash idea but I have not
reviewed his plans yet.
I understand that an insurance company plans to build an
office east of the proposed carwash. That development must be
platted and a site plan approved before that development may start.
SPRING BREAKFAST
Tickets invitations are now being printed for the April 21st
breakfast. Janice has also been updating a list of area dignitaries
list to whom we will send the invitations. Committee planning for
the event continues.
OEDA Director's Report
March 14, 1990
Page 4
PROPOSED DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE MOVE TO THE TULSA AREA
I have attached for your perusal recent newspaper accounts
about the proposed move by the Oklahoma D.O.C. to our area.
CORRESPONDENCE
Last month I informed you that I had sent letters to two
motels, K -Mart and Luby's about establishing their businesses in
Owasso. I have not heard from the motels but I did receive a letter
from Luby's that Owasso does not quite have the attributes that
Luby's management feels is necessary for the cafeteria. I have also
not heard from K -Mart but I wrote the letter for a local developer.
Hopefully K -Mart is corresponding with him.
CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS
Leadership Owasso, Wednesday March 14th, 5:00, Chamber office
Trail Days Committee, Thursday March 15th, 7:30, First Bank
School Superintendents reception, Thursday March 15, 5:00 - 7:00
Tulsa Doubletree, 616 W. 7th Street
E.I.N. workshop, Wednesday March 21, 10:00 a.m., D.O.C. offices
in Oklahoma City
C.O.I.N.A.C. economic planning meeting, Thursday March 22, 9 a.m.
- 11:00 a.m., Tulsa Convention Center
Planing Commission, Thursday March 22, 7:00 p.m. Owasso Community
Center
I will not be in the office on Friday March 23rd.
CHAMBER BUSINESS
The Chamber membership directory is now available. The
Ambassadors Club will be distributing the directory to all members
who did not pick it up at the monthly lunch or from the office.
The Home and Garden show is this weekend. The Ambassadors Club
under the leadership of Judy Pruitt will be working that show.
Planning for Trail Days is ongoing. We are receiving calls
for the Arts and Crafts show and the Business Fair. Flyers for
booth rentals were sent March 12th to last year's exhibitors.
1fiMU lI ��illrr'
LOCATION & POPULATION
Name:
County:
Population:
Urban Proximity:
Avg. Production Wage:
Labor Mix:
Managerial & Professional:
Technical:
Administrative Support:
Precision and Production:
Service:
Laborers & Material Handlers:
LABOR
TRANSPORTATION
Owasso
TULSA
30000
5 mi.
9.72
18 %
12 %
18 %
21 %
13 %
2%
Interstate highways:
1
Frequency of rail service:
Daily
Proximity to barge facilities:
Local
Distance to nearest commercial airport:
Local
Local Airport:
Tulsa International
Length of runway:
10500 ft.
Instrument Landing System:
No
24 Hour Operations:
No
UTILITIES
Typical Electric Rate:
Typical Natural Gas Rate:
Typical Water Rate:
Water Plant Capacity:
Typical Wastewater Rate:
Water System Operations:
$0.0550 per
kWHr
j 0.02 per MCF
$ 2.32 per 1K
gal
2 MGO
$ 0.92 per 1K
gal
Below capacity
AVAILABLE BUILDING SPACE
Building Size: 0 sq.ft.
Lot Size: 0 ac.
Building Age: 0 yrs.
Building Condition: Excellent
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1) E P A R T M E N T O F C 0 11 M 1? H C E,
HENRY BEILMON
GOVERNOR
DONAID D. PAULSEN
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
February 26, 1990
Dear Allies:
We are experiencing a number of misunderstandings by new
businesses concerning the constitutional ad valorem tax
exemption. The following points should be made clear to each
business applying for and expecting to receive this tax benefit.
1. It is a constitutional provision and cannot be altered by
any authority except the voting public.
2. It is administered by the County Assessor's Office.
3. The final authority is the Oklahoma Tax Commission.
4. It is for a new building or one that has been vacant for 12
months. Note: "Vacant" means absolutely no one in or
nothing stored in the building.
5. The building must be utilized as a manufacturing facility.
There is a specific definition of the term "manufacturing. "
6. The benefit is for the owner of the building and the owner
must be a manufacturing company.
Caution: Holding companies and individuals who plan to own
the building and lease to the manufacturing company may not
be eligible for the tax exemption.
7. When the Tax Commission gives a preliminary opinion, it's
based on the facts presented. If the facts, as presented,
are inaccurate, then the business could be disappointed in
the final ruling.
I am hopeful we can reduce the number of rejected applications
that result in hard feelings and ill will toward the state and
local government. It's important to keep our integrity as we
work long term in the recruitment program for Oklahoma. If you
have any questions, please contact your county assessor's office
or the Oklahoma Tax Commission.
Sincerely
Roy. Williams
Assistant Director
- Business
6601 Broadway Extension • Ohlahoma City, Ohlahoma 73116 -8214
Telephone: 405- 843 -9770 • Telex: 350352
Randle Offers Tulsa's Aid
if Department Moves Here
By Donna Hoffman
World Staff Writer
Tulsans will pay moving
costs and save the state
$100,000 anually in rent if the
Oklahoma Department of
Commerce will move from
Oklahoma City to Tulsa,
Mayor Rodger Randle said
Thursday.
"We think this is a new state
policy to decentralize and the
move to Tulsa is the first step.
We are eager to see this hap-
pen and we don't think it is
frivolous," Randle said.
...Randle
Continued from A -1
A successful move to Tulsa
could open the gate to a stampede
of state bureaucrats up the turn-
pike to take advantage of a public
attitude that is pro - Oklahoma and
supportive of economic develop-
ment. Randle said.
Sen. Stratton Taylor, D- Clare-
more, said, "There s no limit on
moving out offices. The only thing
that can't be moved is the state
seal."
Lawmakers said the proposed
move was prompted by a nega-
tive attitude by the business com-
munity aqd the press in Oklahoma
City,
Randle's offer of Tulsa help
comes a day after the Senate Ap-
propriations and Budget Commit-
tee passed a recommendation to
move the office to .Tulsa, which
said.
No estimate of moving costs
has been made. The department
will need 40,000 square feet.
About 10,000 square feet is empty
at Tulsa's State Office Building
and the rest is available nearby,
Randle said.
Rozell said it is not necessary
for all state government depart -_
ments to be in Oklahoma City.
"With the facilities here and the
communications network, we can
serve the state just as well," he
said.
Rozell also cited Tulsa's eco-
nomic success as a factor. "Over
8,000 jobs were created here last
year and Oklahoma City has had a
loss in employment. We want to
take this office where the growth
is," he said.
Rozell said Oklahoma legisla-
tors have been unjustly castigated
by the Daily Oklahoman and its
publisher, Edward Gaylord.
"What would you think if you
came to town for the first time
and picked up the paper to see a
was promoted by eastern Oklaho-
ma Democrats and supported by
Tulsa Republicans. \
The bill by Sen. Herb Rozell, 'J
D- Tahlequah, now goes to the full
Senate and still must be consid -.
ered by the House of Representa-
tives. \ '
Rozell, who joined Randle and
other area senators at a Tulsa
press conference Thursday, said,
"It's a good possibility it will hap-
pen. There was a lot of support in
the Legislature today."
Moving costs and rental sav-
ings.would come from private do-
nations to be solicited by the Met-
ropolitan Tulsa Chamber of
Commerce. No city or public tax
funds would be used, Randle
See Randle on A -4
front page editorial listing 10 rea-
sons not to come here ?"
Sen. Frank Rhodes, R- Catoosa,
said, "If the office is here in Tulsa
it would have a better chance of
bringing jobs to the state."
Taylor, who is chairman of the
Appropriations Committee which
voted for the move, said the move
was not being done to punish the
newspaper publisher. ' You can't
change someone that doesn't care
about Oklahoma."
Randle said such a move is
"important to every part of Okla-
homa, even the most distant cor-
ners."
Randle said he will expand
his regional unification efforts
with towns in northeastern Okla-
homa to include soliciting support
for the Commerce Department
move.
After Randle took office two
years ago he initiated a successful
drive to unite northeastern Okla-
homa cities to promote common
economic and legislative goals -
Also supporting Randle at the
press conference were the
mayors of Sand Springs and
Claremore.
Asked if his action would revive
the old rivalry between the two
major cities, Randle sidestepped
the question by citing widespread
support from all areas of the state
except Oklahoma City.
Taylor said, "Oklahoma City
can't complain. After all, they
stole the capitol in the dead of
night from Guthrie."
Taylor expects non - partisan
support in the Senate will pass the
bill.
Sen. Ted Fisher, D- Sapulpa,
chairman of the Senate's econom-
ic development committee, also
supported the move and Randle's
of er.
He said the Commerce Depart-
ment's $54 million budget in-
cludes $11.8 million from the
state and the remainder from the
federal government for economic
and community development pro-
grams.
Moving the department would
mean 191 jobs for Tulsa and $5.5
million in salaries spent in the
city, Fisher said.
bane) Votes to 11/love
Department to Tulsa,
sr .,huck_kyii!,.
Norte CopitQI- Sureou -
OKLAHOMA CITY — A
' enate committee voted over-
whelmingly Tuesday to move
he ;Oklahoma Department of
;ommert and ita $54 million
) udget from Oklahoma City to
,'ulsa - � ,
The •move was promoted by
!astern ".Oklahoma Democrats
,ut was:'Opported by Tulsa
tepublicatls,As well...
Democratic and Republican
enators; tr9m: the Oklahoma City
rea`opporedt'the move, which re-
eived • as364 :, "do, pass" recom-
aendation *oni the Senate Ap-
ropriations and. Budget
'ommittee.4
The bill ">;y Sen:, Herb tozell,
►- Tahleeqquah, would move the de-
artment"and: its. 185 employees
a county of more than 300,000
eo le and that it "not be located
i the seat of state government."
That narrows the.choice down
' sa County. The bill now will
-he full Senate and still must
e considered by the House of
' epresentatives. '
Lawmakers who support the
love to Tulsa cited a more posi-
ve attitude by its business com-
iunity and press.
Rozell and other senators said
highly critical editorials in The. s
Daily Oklahoman, a newspaper in
Oklahoma City; were a factor in
their decision to move the agen -Z,
cy. M
"I don't like the treatment I get
when I'm here," Rozell said. 3
"When I'm not wanted,•I'm going
to leave and I'm going to take
something with me."
He said Oklahoma legislators
had been unfairly castigated by
The Daily Oklahoman, despite
sacrifices they make in their bu-
sinesses and family. lives tp
serve. 1
I'm tired of calling home and
having mfr wife ask,'Herb who ?'"
Rozell-said.
"I pay more money to, stay here
(Oklahoma City) than I do'for my
home. Once in a while..rd.like.a
little kindness, and,;i. haven't
found that here. I'm tired of
what's being said." .`:;,
He noted that lawm4';jijs have
been labeled "cowards, crooks
and clowns" in the edWori$l;.cof-.
umns of .the Oklahoma,,;Clty
paper. ;
Sen. Stratton Taylorr.DNClare=
more, charged that the, pappeeMs
publisher, Edward L.-.;Gaylord',
used "blackjack tactics" on 14e
State Chamber of .Commerce 'by
withdrawing his $20,000 member=
ship after it announced its sup-
port of a $230 million education
See Commerce on A -4
..Commerce
Continued, from A -1
ix and reform bill.
"He (Gaylord) doesn't care
bout Oklahoma, it appears, or he
ouldn't put all his investments in
exas and Tennessee," Taylor
tid.
Gaylord's: enterprises include
Ktensive broadcast and enter -
iinment entities in Nashville,
enn., and Dallas.
"Maybe there would be a better
ivironment in Tulsa," Taylor
tid. "Maybe visiting industry
ould not l?e .confronted with
age One editorials listing rea-
,ns why they should not come to
{lahoma and how bad state gov-
nment is.
He said moving the agency to
would "symbolize a new era
Lahoma where all Oklaho-
ans have a chance to share in
eir government.
It would not be difficult for the
)mmerce Department to oper-
e outside the Capitol area "in
e age of fax machines and com-
ters," Taylor said.
Sen. Bernice Shedrick, D- Still-
Vocational-T'echnicail "D-epart-
ment has been based in Stillwater
since its inception and said it had
"an international reputatio "- for
excellence. r, :,k.'
She also lauded the° Metropoli-
tan Tulsa Chamber of Commerce,
which strongly supports the 'edu-
cation bill.
"When you're looking for long-
term leadership, it's generally the
Tulsa Chamber of Commerce that
steps up," she said. "That's what
we're looking for from the busi-
ness community in this state."
The Daily Oklahoman has se-
verely criticized Gov. Henry Bell-
Mon and legislators "who have
supported the educatiop bill.
Shedrick noted that here is no
reason the Commerce Depart-
ment could not function as well or
better outside the Ca itol area..
"We all know, it �9Qoernment
operation) doesn't have to happen
in Oklahoma City," sh4 said....
According to Taylor„ space for
the agency easily could be found
in Tulsa and Mayor Rodger Ran-
dle has offered hjs help. ,
Several Oklahoma Cty -area
lawmakers argued agpipst the
move. 4 ,
Sen. Tom Cole;; R- Mdore, said
the Rozell bill prjmarily kvas., in
retaliation for critical cgn)Ments
in The Daily Oklahoman; J'
"This type of activity. , oesn't
help'the image of the ISe*iala-
ture," he said.
Sen. Gary Gardenhire, 419 Nor-
man, pointed out that Tulsa al-
ready has state offices.
"We already have decentra-
lized government," he said. "The
purpose (of the bill) is to chill
dissent."
The Department of ,'Commerce
promotes industrial and economic
development in Oklahoma, the
sale of Oklahoma products over-
seas and foreign as well as do-
mestic Investment in Oklahoma.
It recently has expanded its ef-
forts overseas and has offices or
representatives in Japan, Europe,
India and the People's Republic of
China.
The department's $54 million
budget includes about $12 million
in state - appropriated funds `The
rest is federal funds for economic
and community development.
One of the agency's functions is
to act as a clearinghouse for fe-
derally funded community -based
projects. The former Department
of Economic and Community Af-
fairs was merged with the Com-
merce Department years ago.
Commerce - Secretary Don
Paulsen, who heads the agency,
said he was not aware of the Ro-
zell bill and was surprised by the
move. "I'm very interested in
talking to Sen. Rozell about it,"
Paulsen said.
Sen. Charles Ford, R- Tulsa,
along with other Tulsa Republi-
cans, has been the target of criti-
cal Tulsa World editorials for op-
posing the education bill. Hp was
asked by one committee member
whether he wanted "to reward the
Tulsa World" by moving the Com-
merce Department.
"I don't want to reward the
Tulsa World right now; but I do
want to reward the people of
Tulsa," Ford replied.
`?die' and Sen. Frank Rhodes. R-
Catpo$a;,werp Tulsa County law -
nxakers who voted for the "do
pass ". motion. Sen. Maxine
H rner, D- Tulsa, also voted for
itg'
The other Tulsans on the com-
mittee — Sens. Penny Williams,
D�Tulsa, and Jerry Smith, R-
Tulsa — were not present.
Smith, a candidate for gover-
nor, -was in the room but left
shortly before the vote was
taken.
Lel
Welcome
For State
By Susan Ellerbach
World Business Editor
7.w.
Readied
Agency
Tulsa officials aren't rolling out
the red carpet yet. But they agree
with the Senate Appropriations
Committee.
Tulsa would be an excellent site
for the Oklahoma Department of
Commerce, a $154 million agency
with 185 employees.
On Wednesday, the Senate com-
mittee voted 16 -9 to move the
economic development agency to
Tulsa. The bill, authored by Sen.
Herbert Rozell, D- Tahlequah, will
now be considered by the full Sen-
ate.
"Tulsa would be the most natu-
ral place for that department be-
cause it is, a business advocacy
agency," said Mayor Rodger Ran-
dle. "Strong community support
for education and other steps nec-
essary for .a business foundation
have been led from Tulsa."
Mickey Thompson said the De-
partment of Commerce would be
an economic boost for the city. He
is vice president of economic de-
velopment for the Metropolitan
Tulsa Chamber of Commerce.
"The department is constantly
hosting prospects that are looking
at locating businesses in Oklaho-
ma. If they come into Oklahoma
City first, then that's the first
place they look.
"If those prospects were flying
into Tulsa and their orientation
started here, that would be a big
advantage for this part of the
state. The first impression is so
important in attracting new bu-
sinesses."
Randle said the committee's
consideration is a clear indication
that the legislature will consider
opportunities to put pieces of
state government throughout
Oklahoma. "I dbn't know whether
it will be accomplished in this
legislative session, but it's a long-
term direction," he said.
A former state senator, Randle
said state agencies were original-
0 0 .Agency
Continued from B -1
Department in Tulsa, he'll guar-
antee they'll save money.
"The move to Tulsa could be a
money saver for the state. There's
vacant space in the State Office
Building here. We would work
with the state to see that moving
costs for the department would be
paid locally.
Mayor Rodger Randle
Guarantees Lower Costs
Mickey Thompson
Eyes Economic Benefits
ly consolidated in Oklahoma City
because of difficulties in com-
municating throughout the state.
"In this age of advanced telecom-
munications, that's changed," he
said.
And, pledged Randle, if the
state wants to put the Commerce
See Agency on B -2
I would guarantee, on behalf of
Tulsa, that the state of Oklahoma
would save money on the move."
Both Randle and Thompson
doubt that the Department of
Commerce's move will become a
political reality. "But it makes as
much sense to me for them to be
here as it does for them to be in
Oklahoma City," Thompson said.
"I'm a little prejudiced though."
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L
&4SenatorTaylor favors, moving
Q 1)
of Dept-. to Tu Isa
`By Stratton Taylor
M State Senator
Earlier last week; a bill
proposing to move the Okla -
homa Department of Coin -
merce to Tulsa-was approved
by the Senate Appropriations
Committee, of which I am, the
Chairman.
I believe this is an excellent
bill because it symbolizes that
all of state government does
not have to be in Oklahoma
City and it could be the start
of a very important trend,
bringing many more state
agencies and jobs to the Tulsa
area, including Rogers and
Mayes counties.
If this.bill is passed by the
full legislature, the state's
chief economic development
agency would be very close to
the communities in my dis-
trict.
That's good news because it
would provide many new
opportunities to Tulsa and
surrounding counties.
For Rogers and Mayes coun-
ties, that would mean more
jobs and new residents who
would move to the Tulsa area
to work at the new department
offices in Tulsa.
Senate figures show that 191
jobs would be created and $5.5
million in salaries would be
spent not only in Tulsa, but
also in Rogers and Mayes
counties.
Tulsa Mayor Roger Randle
has made a very tempting
offer as a result of this bill.
He says he will get private
donations from Tulsa busi-
nessmen to pay for the move,
and will save the state
$100,000 annually in rent to
house the Commerce
Department.
This means that taxpayers
would not have to pay one
penny to see the department
moved and the move would
actually save the state money
each and every year.
For all these reasons, I feel
this bill should be passed by
the legislature. It could be
the start of a whole new eco-
nomic development boom for
the Tulsa area, and that's
good news.
If you have any questions or
concerns about this measure
or any others affecting my dis-
trict, please write to me at
Room 522, State Capitol Build-
ing, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma,
'3105.
L
iw a /9 /s. ru_i
House Kills Attempts
To Halt Agency Move
By Jim Myers
World Capitol Bureau
OKLAHOMA CITY The
state House easily killed two
amendments Thursday de-
signed to block the proposed
move of the Department of
Commerce and its 191 employ-
ees from Oklahoma City to
Tulsa.
Rep. Kevin Easley, D- Tulsa,
a principal author of the pro-
posal to relocate the agency,
said those two "test votes"
send a clear message the
House is ready to approve the
move, which already cleared
the Senate.
The doomed amendments were
to be inserted in a $13.9 million
funding bill for the Department of
Commerce.
They were sponsored by two
lawmakers from the Oklahoma
City area.
One by Rep. Leonard Sullivan,
R- Oklahoma City, would have
House members shot
to block a plan to move
to Tulsa. Their defeat is
members approve of tt
Fast Takes on A -4.
down two attempts Thursday
the Department of Commerce
a clear indication most House
e plan, its author said. More
killed the funding if the agency
ever left Oklahoma City.
It was tabled by a 56 -27 vote.
Rep. Ernest Istook, R -Warr
Acres, pushed the second amend-
ment, which would have barred
state money from being used in
relocating the agency.
House members tabled Istook's
amendment by a 61 -32 vote.
A third amendment from yet
another Oklahoma City lawmaker
was cut off by a procedural
move.
A final vote on the bill itself
was 94 -6.
Easley said supporters of the
bill to move the agency had sever-
al votes to spare in the skirmish,
since several northeastern Okla-
homa lawmakers were outside
the chamber and missed the ta-
bling motions.
Moreover, two of those who
voted against -one of the tabling
motions said later they were
strong supporters of the proposal
to relocate the agency.
The issue of moving the agen-
cy to Tulsa came up faster than I
expected, Easley said. "However,
I am very pleased with the re-
sults," he said.
After the floor votes, he said a
number of lawmakers ap-
proached him to indicate their
support for the move was
strong.
"I think the votes were a clear
sign the time is right," Easley
said.
He said the proposal has been
scheduled for the so- called fast
track and could be out of the
House Committee on Commerce,
Industry and Labor as early as
next week.
Referring to opponents' charge
the proposal is a slap at Oklaho-
ma City, especially The Daily Ok-
lahoman's often nasty editorials,
Easley said many lawmakers now
see the move as a chance to im-
prove economic development.
At a Thursday press confer-
ence, Gov. Henry Bellmon said he
sees nothing wrong with moving
the Commerce Department to
Tulsa, but appeared to hedge
when asked if he supports the pro-
posal.
"We'll have to look at it when
the bill gets here," Bellmon said.
Bellmon said he discussed the
possible move with Commerce
Secretary Don Paulsen and asked
if the transfer would disrupt
agency operations.
He quoted Paulsen as saying
that would depend on the timing
of the move and how many em-
ployees would be willing to ..rans-
fer. If a significant numbw of
employees did not agree to trans -
See Commerce on A -4
14-01
r
...Commerce J.w. 31�1?°
Continued from A -1
fer, replacements would have to
be trained.
Bellmon said only 10,000
square feet of space is available
at the State Office Building in
Tulsa.
He noted that would not be
enough to accommodate the en-
tire Commerce Department.
But Bellmon said that he and
Paulsen had discussed moving
only the 50-employee federal
grant section of the agency.
Bellmon was asked if moving
one section instead of the entire
agency, as the bill proposes,
wouldn't amount to "tossing Tulsa
a bone."
"Fifty jobs is a pretty delecta-
ble bone," Bellmon said, although
he conceded that would not be as
delectable as nearly 200 jobs.
Most observers expect the bill
to pass the House, leaving the
final decision with Bellmon on
whether to sign or veto it.
Tulsa Mayor Rodger Randle
said Thursday that decentralizing
state government would allow all
Oklahomans to feel they are a
part of happenings in the state.
Randle called a meeting with
other area mayors and civic lead-
ers to discuss the proposed De-
partment of Commerce move
from Oklahoma City to Tulsa.
The move is not just a gain for
Tulsa, but for all Oklahomans, he
said.
Such moves would allow Okla-
homans to "have a part of what's
going on in state government," he
said. .
The Department of Commerce
move is a test to determine how
Oklahomans feel about moving
government bodies to other parts
of the state, he said.
"It's a beginning test of wheth-
er Oklahoma is ready to accept
the concept of decentralization,"
he said.
The mayor speculated that
studies could be done to deter -
mine where in Oklahoma other
state agencies would be most .ef-
fective.
Randle asked for a show -of
hands of business leaders at ,the
meeting who would help raise
money for the move. He got near-
ly unanimous support.
Randle has pledged to raise
money to pay the moving co §ts
and said the department would
save $100,000 annually in rent
costs.
Randle told business leaders to
let Bellmon know they feel
,strongly about the move.
"Tulsa.is a fine city and Oklaho-
ma City is a fine city," Bellmon
said. "I have no problem with
state services being delivergd
from either city, or other
places." I .
Bellmon said no one with Okla-
homa City has contacted him
about the proposed agency trans-
fer.
"But I wouldn't be surprised'if
that happens," he said.
The chairman of the House
Commerce, Industry and Labor
Committee said he plans to con-
sider the bill early next week and
predicted it would get a favorabje
hearing.
Also contributing to this
story were World Staff Writers
C'huc'k Ervin and Danise Abdo -
lott.
c
0
3
M
Es
Plan. to Move Commerce Agency.
Draws Heat from OC Forces
By Jim Myers
World Capitol Bureau
OKLAHOMA CITY — On
the eve of a crucial House
committee vote, Oklahoma
City forces turned up the
pressure Tuesday against a bill
to yrelocate the state Depart-
ment of Commerce and its
191 employees to Tulsa.
Rep. Kevin Easley, D- Tulsa,
the bill's author, predicted the
proposal would win approval
Wednesday of the House Com-
mittee on Commerce, Industry
and Labor.
One informal survey, however,
indicated the Senate proposal has
lost some of its momentum, but
geographically the committee ap-
pears to be weighted in Tulsa's
favor.
The survey indicated about 40
"hard" votes against the move
with about 35 in favor of it. That
leaves about 26 undecided.
"It's going to be close," Com-
mittee Chairman Larry Rice, D-
Pryor, said.
Meanwhile, Oklahoma City
Mayor Ron Norick and other civic
leaders worked the halls of the
House of Representatives in an
attempt to kill the proposal.
During their lunch hour, about
100 Department of Commerce
employees gathered in the House
gallery.
Their visit followed a memo
from Commerce Director. Don
Paulsen, who advised workers
.:.Move
Continued from A -1
force would be reassigned the re-
sponsibility of putting together a
relocation plan."
He said the "main considera-
tion" should be the move's impact
on the department's work force.
A letter signed by 21 Oklahoma
City -area lawmakers to Tulsa
Mayor Rodger Randle also fo-
cused on the costs of the move.
It honed in on Randle's pledges
to fund the move from private
sources.
In a March 8 letter, he had
promised to pay "all" moving
costs and locate cheaper office
space.
"Your statements appear care-
fully worded in a way that your
commitment can be interpreted
several different ways," the law-
makers told Randle, who is in the
middle of a re- election cam-
paign.
"When you pledge to pay all
moving costs, does this include
the projected cost to the state (for
moving employees). It is project-
ed that this cost will be $356,000,
being an average of $2,000 each
for 178 employees."
Personal moving costs would
be much higher, they said.,
Their letter also asked whether
Randle was pledging to pay for
training new employees and for
unemployment costs for those
who choose not to relocate.
"Since these costs are so great,
we would like to know if you in-
tend to use any city of Tulsa tax
dollars in your efforts," they
said.
that opponents of the bill believed
such a showing would help.
They "felt this would empha-
size the fact that the Legislature
is dealing with people and their
livelihood and not just a state
agency," the memo stated.
Paulsen also circulated a re-
port showing the costs of moving
the agency could top $800,000.
In addition, he cited expenses of
providing unemployment com-
pensation to those Commerce De-
partment employees who could
not or would not move.
"Conceptually, I have no prob-
lem with locating state agencies
away from Oklahoma City. How-
ever, it should not be done on a
'crash' basis," Paulsen stated.
"If a private sector company
were considering a relocation of
this sort, an individual. or a task
See Move on A -4
Initially, the proposal to relo-
cate the Commerce Department
to Tulsa began in the Senate, par-
tially in response to lack of sup-
port in Oklahoma City of a major
school bill and critical editorials
from the newspaper here.
Supporters said economic de-
velopment efforts would do better
in the climate provided in Tulsa.
The move continued to pick up
steam as lawmakers from outside
the Oklahoma City area viewed it
as a chance to disburse state gov-
ernment resources.
"I'm still confident House
members will see the importance
of providing better state services
at a cheaper costs," Easley said.
He pointed to last week's two
test votes in which lawmakers
easily rejected two attempts to
block the move.
While declining to concede the
proposal has lost momentum,
Easley took notice of what he
called the "unfortunate" lobbying
efforts of Oklahoma City business
interests.
Critics of the move hope those
jjR,rts will at least persuade law -
trs to deal with the issue on
n merits.
don't think there has been a
Aassionate analysis of what
ri ng the Commerce Depart-
m would do," said Rep. Mi-
ch el Hunter, R- Oklahoma City.
H,µnter said lawmakers must
real'ize the agency, if moved,
would not retain the experienced
t" Lworkers it fQw has.
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