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Centennial Planning to Garner Big Money

Posted on: Wednesday, 14 December 2005, 21:00 CST

By Greg Elwell, The Daily Oklahoman, The Daily Oklahoman

Dec. 14--EDMOND -- City officials are pledging major funding for upcoming Centennial projects.

After approving 19 planning items, the Edmond City Council ended a marathon meeting Monday looking ahead to the city's centennial celebration.

The council agreed to fund up to $40,000 for the sculpture "Kentucky Daisy" for the Edmond Centennial Commission and discussed several other projects that could begin before the end of 2007.

Plans for landscaped areas called "Centennial Groves," highlighting the city's commitment to trees and greenery, were well received at a possible $25,000 per corner. However, the council was split on the Centennial Clock, which is similar to one already installed at the University of Central Oklahoma.

Mayor Saundra Naifeh and Councilwoman Paula Sanford both expressed trepidation about spending funds on something already duplicated within the city.

Councilmen David Miller and Charles Lamb said they liked the clock for its differences from the university's timepiece, but seemed more excited about combining projects suggested by the commission with already planned city expenditures.

A pedestrian bridge linking the Festival Marketplace with the south side of Second Street was already in the cards and also fulfills the commission's vision, Miller said.

Other ideas still up for debate include a sculpture park, new signage highlighting Route 66 and Centennial Bricks for purchase by city residents.

While the council seemed in the spending mood for the Centennial, they talked about a 10-year payment plan for a $16,000 loan to Acousticadia and an $8,000 Edmond Parks Department bill with Kathleen Patton, the new Acousticadia chairman.

Patton said the first year event brought in $60,000 on June 10 and 11, but they still fell $21,000 short of expenses. The city's loan of $16,000 helped pay off bills, but a payment schedule is still being worked out to repay the money, she said.

Sanford said she was concerned that the planners were going into another Acousticadia for 2006 still owing the city money and wondered where the payments to the city would come from.

Naifeh said the council will need ongoing reports from Acousticadia planners as they work on next year's event to avoid possible monetary shortfalls.

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Copyright (c) 2005, The Daily Oklahoman

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Source: The Daily Oklahoman

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