The decision by Cleveland County's Board of Commissioners to try and fund a new jail through a sales tax concerns Norman Mayor Cindy Rosenthal.
"Obviously, the city is not excited about the county encroaching on the sales tax," the mayor told members of the Norman Business Association Friday.
Commissioners have called a Dec. 9 election on the quarter cent proposal to fund the $34.5 million facility. They may be competing against the city which will likely bring a second attempt at funding for libraries some time next year.
The mayor discussed the library drive and a number of other issues during the group's regular meeting. She said she was excited about the accomplishments during the past year.
"This has been a good year in the midst of gloom and doom," she said, adding she does not envision bringing a second library vote to the public this year.
“We want to give this economy time to turn around," she said.
She said the city's finances - not counting its investment portfolio - are in good shape. Sales taxes were up 8.5 percent last month and finished the year up an average of 6.7 percent.
"We're going to be crossing our fingers and waiting to see what happens during the holiday season."
Commercial building permits, at historic levels for the past two years because of hospital and University North Park projects, are back to normal levels, she said.
Rosental identified key issues on the table including:
• The stormwater master plan which could cost $80 million to $90 million to implement. "This is certainly something that's not going to be free," she said.
• Parks master plan. "We're going to be evaluating from top to bottom our parks facilities," she said.
• Water quality and quantity.
• Public transportation including bus service to the business park and regional solutions for the area.
• Curbside recycling's implementation. "We are running at numbers unmatched in the metro area and above the national average," she said. Apartments may be included in the future.
• Tree planting and litter awareness.
Local news
Mayor: City not excited about county's request for sales tax
- Local news
-
-
Union members protest GCI at new OU dorm site
Members of Carpenters Local Union No. 329 conducted a protest Thursday morning in front of the construction site of a new dormitory on the University of Oklahoma campus....
-
Seed exchange planned
Every day brings spring a day closer, meaning it’s time to start thinking about and planting spring vegetable and flower gardens....
-
TEAM having positive results
The Citizens Public Safety Oversight Committee elected Don Holyfield as the new chair and approved the annual report at its monthly meeting Thursday....
-
Newest library branch expected to open by month’s end
The city of Oklahoma City is currently working with equipment manufacturers to remedy last-minute obstacles that are keeping Pioneer Library System’s 10th branch closed to the public....
-
OK-FIRE workshop coming to Norman
A full-day OK-FIRE computer training workshop will be March 16 at the National Weather Center in Norman. Dr. J.D. Carlson, OSU fire meteorologist and OK-FIRE program director, will direct the workshop. Training will begin at 9:30 a.m. and ...
-
Wheelock receives Girl Scouts award
Girl Scouts-Western Oklahoma presented Brenda Wheelock of Norman with the Frances Hesselbein Award at the organization’s recent annual meeting. The award is named for a woman who changed Girl Scouts of the United States of America when ...
-
Weed control is important in lawns
Did your lawn fall under attack from weeds last year? Do you want to get a head start on controlling them this year? Or maybe you are thinking about doing your own lawn care instead of hiring out? It seems that weed control is on ...
-
IRS launches outreach campaign to help workers
The Internal Revenue Service and community partners nationwide launched an annual outreach campaign this week. The campaign is aimed at helping millions of Americans who earned $49,078 or less take advantage of the Earned Income Tax ...
-
Men face counts including bribery
The Multi-County Grand Jury handed up indictments today against two former Blanchard city administrators. Former Blanchard city manager Bill D. Edwards and former police chief Tom M. Linn were indicted on two felony counts, including ...
-
Norman named best school district
Oklahoma Technology Association named Norman Public Schools as Best District of The Year for the 2011-2012 school year Wednesday morning at its annual conference in the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City....
- More Local news Headlines
-
