Tourism Authority delays decision on Roxy Management
Tourism officials postponed Thursday a decision that could return management of the Roxy Theatre to the city of Muskogee.
Muskogee Tourism Authority Trust members are concerned the amount of funds dedicated for repair and maintenance of the Roxy is insufficient for the task.
'I can't understand why the City Council has turned its back on this asset,' said Trustee Mike Gragg at Thursday's regular meeting. 'This is, to me and I'll have to check on it, almost a historical building for our city. I think it's a crying shame we have a Council and past city managers that weren't interested in maintaining this asset.'
This is the second consecutive meeting where trustees delayed a decision to dissolve a management agreement with Oxford Productions, Inc. and 'negotiate and execute an agreement to return the Roxy Theater to the City of Muskogee.'
Trustees postponed the decision Thursday after tabling it from last week's special call meeting saying they didn't have all the upkeep figures needed to make an informed decision.
'We asked them (the city) to get us some quotes, really to do a feasibility study,' said Trustee Traci McGee. 'That hasn't happened. I think what they're looking at, they're saying there's some issues but they don't have a figure for those estimations.'
Trustees gave the executive committee of the trust permission to schedule a question and answer session with the City Council and city manager about the situation.
'They want to have a discussion with the City Council because the City Council will be the ones that has the answer,' McGee said. 'Since it's a city-owned building, (Council) will make the final vote and it may be also be with the city manager so that he'll know what's going on and he can bring it to the Council.'
The trust receives $65,000 from the city and trustees say it's not enough.
Oxford Productions owner Avery Frix told trustees Oxford has been in communication with the city on a regular basis.
'They're aware of the challenges,' Frix said. 'I don't think the issue is they aren't aware — they're certainly aware.'
At last week's meeting Mayor Patrick Cale, a trustee, said there was no money available in this year's budget to spend on the building, a point that Tourism Authority Chief Operating Officer Marlon Coleman repeated Thursday.
'This week I've had several conversations with city councilors,' Coleman said. 'The sentiment is all the same … there's not going to be any new money for maintenance.'
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