Tax Incentive Plan Gets Go Ahead
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Students Lions claw earn way to victory awards against PAGE 3 Wampus Cats SPORTS 7 75¢ DurantDemocrat DURANTDEMOCRAT.COM THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2018 Tax incentive plan gets go ahead Job growth touted by majority, Grube says this is not the right time BY MICHAEL CLEMENTS ish-based industrial tubing allows for the Durant Industrial [email protected] manufacturer, plans to invest Authority to issue bonds. between $40 and $62 million in “If they issue bonds and the During a public hearing Tues- Salem Tube, a company project- company folds, who’s going to day night, the Durant City Coun- ed to employ up to 140 people pay those bonds?” Masoner cil approved Tax Increment with an average annual salary of asked. Financing for Salem Tube on a $55,000. Dan Batchelor, an attorney 4-to-1 vote with Councilmember The hearing was the final with the Center, said that lan- Oden Grube casting the only no. chance for residents to hear de- guage was included in the TIF or- “Unemployment is the lowest tails of the TIF plan and ask dinance to allow for the issuance it’s been in 50 years. The Choc- questions. Jean Masoner, of Du- of bonds if necessary. Batchelor taws will be hiring 1,000 workers rant, asked about debt that may said the plan is for there to be no and can’t find people to fill those be associated with the plan. In debt. However, he said it’s impos- jobs,” Grube said. “I’m definitely previous meetings, representa- sible to plan for every eventual- for economic development. How- tives of the Center of Economic ity. He said that regardless, the ever, I don’t understand why we Development Law, which wrote city will be the final arbiter on have to give incentives for compa- the plan, stressed that the TIF debt. nies to come here when the econ- does not call for any debt. How- “You have complete control as Photo provided by Center for Economic Development omy is booming.” ever, as Masoner pointed out, the Tubacex Holdings plans to invest between $40 and $62 million in Tubacex Holdings, a Span- ordinance establishing the TIF SEE TAX, PAGE 3 Salem Tube plant on this 40-acre parcel. Bryan County road grant completed BY MATT SWEARENGIN Road received asphalt, [email protected] and in District 3, asphalt was used on Caddo Hills A public hearing was Road. held to close out a grant The projects have all for three road-improve- been completed and ment projects in the commissioners Ron county that have been Boyer, Tony Simmons completed. and Jay Perry voted to The hearing was held approve the resolution Wednesday morning at closing out the projects. a special meeting of the In other action in the Bryan County Commis- meeting, Pat Peay, ex- sioners. ecutive director with Funding for the proj- the Southern Oklaho- ects came from a Com- ma Nutrition Program, munity Development asked the county for Michael Clements | Durant Democrat Block Grant in the help to repair a trans- Heavy equipment from Bushwackers Land Clearing of Calera chopped, mulched and cleared trees, brush and debris from amount of $150,000 di- mission in their truck the site of a proposed reading park adjacent to the Donald W. Reynolds Community Center and Library this past Tuesday. vided equally among all which will cost approxi- three districts. Matching mately $3,300. funds were also provid- The Durant Senior ed by the district. Citizens Center is one of Library has big plans for small property Millie Vance, Commu- the centers supervised nity Development Block by the nutrition pro- brary, which is planning which is surrounded by wackers Land Clearing BY MICHAEL CLEMENTS Grant administrator, gram. The truck is used the park, said the project city property. Turning ti- of Calera volunteered to [email protected] said the project served to take meals to home- will be costly, difficult and tle of the land over to the clear away the brush and target areas in each dis- bound residents. A land clearing crew is just beginning. city cleared the way for debris. trict of the county with a “There is never mulched trees and brush “It’s a work in progress. the Friends of the Library “We were looking for total of 290 people served enough money,” Peay on a parcel of land next The Friends will work on to start planning the park. prices and (Bushwackers) with 66.36 percent of said. “We get cut (from to the Donald W. Reyn- it as we can but it’s going Mullen said the park will said they would be happy them being low/moder- funding) practically olds Community Center to be a costly thing,” Mul- be dedicated to Angela to just come down and do ate income families. every year and we are and Library preparing len said. Christine Allen, the Al- it,” Mullen said. “That’s For District 1, two down to bare bones.” to develop the space as a The plan was set in mo- len’s infant daughter who a huge donation to the miles of Lakewood Commissioners ex- reading park. However, tion when the family of died. Friends.” Ranchettes Road re- pressed interest in help- Angela Mullen, treasur- Robert and Paula Allen The next step was tak- ceived a gravel overlay. er for Friends of the Li- donated the small plot en care of when Bush- SEE LIBRARY, PAGE 3 In District 2, Roberta SEE GRANT, PAGE 3 Two bills seek to remove INDEX OBITUARIES, 2-3 It’s time for Holiday Follies Oklahoma auto sales tax COMICS, 4 SE theatre program to celebrate Christmas season PUZZLES, 5 OKLAHOMA CITY from the tax during the STAFF REPORT (AP) — Two bills filed this 2017-2018 fiscal year, ac- CLASSIFIEDS, 5-6 week look to end Oklaho- cording to the Oklahoma SPORTS, 7 Southeastern Okla- ma’s automobile sales Tax Commission. homa State University’s tax, which was enacted The state’s revenue sit- BIBLE theatre program pres- during that state’s budget uation has improved after ents The Holiday Follies crisis last year. lawmakers approved tax QUOTE this Friday and Saturday The Senate bills would increases on cigarettes, night at the SE Visual halt the 1.25 percent sales fuel and oil and gas pro- Let the message of and Performing Arts tax on vehicles bought af- duction. Christ dwell among you Center. For two nights, ter July 1, 2019, The Okla- State Sen. Julie Dan- richly as you teach and the talented Southeast- homan reported. The iels of Bartlesville, who admonish one another ern Chorvettes will part- state’s excise tax would filed the other bill, has with all wisdom through ner with the SE Sparks remain. opposed the tax from the Dance troupe to present Southeastern Oklahoma State University photo Republican Senate Ap- start. psalms, hymns, and musical selections of Alumni Jarrett Self and Minda Rocha are part of the long propriations Committee “I see this as double songs from the Spirit, holiday favorites from tradition of performers in Southeastern’s Holiday Follies. Chair Kim David, who taxation of an expensive singing to God with grati- yesterday and today. authored one of the pro- purchase for the vast ma- tude in your hearts. Produced in the style here at Southeastern, they perform at Six Flags posals, supported the tax jority of Oklahomans,” Colossians 3:16 of the musical showcases and we are so happy to Over Texas as part of when it first went into ef- Daniels said. seen in Branson, the the- keep it going. It’s always Holiday In The Park later fect. She said it’s time to Oklahoma is one of atre program uses this such a great way to kick in December. revisit the issue because eight states that taxes format to train students off Durant’s holiday sea- Curtain time is 7:30 the state is in a different vehicles on the full price. in personality projection son. With the combined p.m. nightly in the Visu- place financially. Most states only tax the ISSUE 373 as well as experience in faculty talents of Aaron al and Performing Arts The sales tax was intro- trade-in difference, said VOLUME 141 song and dance. Adair, Riley Coker, Deb- Center and tickets are duced during last year’s Rose Morgan, executive Southeastern theater orah Clements and Re- $10 for adults and $8 for budget crisis to provide director of the Oklahoma director Dell McLain becca Walters, the show students and seniors. an additional revenue Independent Automo- said, “This show is in- is sure to please.” Reservations can be source. Oklahoma col- credibly fun and light. It The faculty will ac- made by calling the box GRAYSTONE MEDIA GROUP LLC lected almost $131 million SEE BILLS, PAGE 3 has become a tradition company the students as office at (580) 745-2696. 2 • NEWS/OBITUARIES THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2018 • DURANT DEMOCRAT OBITUARIES DAVID LEE HAWKINS followed by Trails End you beat him you knew laugh was infectious and in Durant, OK as a small you accomplished some- if he could pull a prank On Friday, Nov 23rd, engine mechanic. thing. He liked taking his on you he would—-all in 2018, Jesus Christ & David and his wife, family on long Sunday good natured fun. His Heavenly Host Jessie are long time drives after church. You Memorial services welcomed home David members of The Fam- never knew where you will be held at 10:00 AM, Lee Hawkins. David was ily Worship Center in would end up. Once we on Saturday, December born on Nov 30, 1933, on Bokchito, OK and prior stumbled on an air show 1, 2018, at Faith Baptist Thanksgiving Day, in to that, members of and spent the rest of Church in Bokchito, OK; Bennington, Bryan Co, Faith Baptist Church.