CV)--For a second time in nine months, Garfield County voters have rejected a proposed sales tax increase to expand and renovate Garfield County Detention Facility. According to unofficial results from Oklahoma State Election Board, Garfield County voters Tuesday voted down the measure with just over 75.5 % voting no. The proposition called for a 0.30%, or 30 cents on every $100 spent, increase to the Garfield County sales tax for 15 years to fund the operation, maintenance, construction, equipping and improvement of GCDF and its facilities. Jail administrator Ben Crooks told Enid News and Eagle in a message Tuesday night following the results he was disappointed in the outcome but mostly “in the fact that taxpayers could eventually pay a higher price and suffer other consequences without the ability to vote on anything.” GCDF has exceeded the operational capacity of 193 beds more than 11 years since its 2005 opening and the design capacity of 232 beds for 10 years out of the past 12. Crooks said that the Garfield County Criminal Justice Authority, which oversees the jail, and GCDF staff “have and will continue to do everything they possibly can to address overcrowding.”
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TS)--Oklahoma Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell will be in Enid today as part of this year’s Travel and Tourism Summit. The Enid summit is sponsored by Visit Enid. There will be several informational workshops to be held in Enid at Stride Bank Center. Pinnell will be the featured speaker during a town hall meeting following the educational workshops. The event will begin at 1:00 p.m. and conclude around 5:30 p.m. Registration for the workshops and summit can be found at https://tinyurl.com/2p896jyc.
Workshop I, titled “Must See, Must Go, Must Do! Bring Life to your Community by Growing your Image,” will be presented by Kelly Tompkins, owner of Hive Appeal, Kyle Williams, president of Jiffy Trip, and Lafe Coldwater, owner/operator of Enid Axe. The group will talk about how to create unique and engaging attractions in the community. Workshop II, titled “Tourism & Travel Marketing Made Easier,” will be facilitated by Chris Fox, a certified StoryBrand Guide and owner of Fox Strategies. He will introduce a simple framework that can be used to improve marketing. For more information about the summit, call Visit Enid at (580) 233-3643.
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BM)--The Enid Mayor and Board of Commissioners will meet in Special Session Thursday at 5:00 p.m. According to the agenda, they will discuss and take possible action on the 2023-2024 Fiscal Year Budget. The meeting will be held in Council Chambers of the City Administration Building on West Garriott and is open to the public.
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