Tulsa Fair Grounds Losing income for county

[amadeusmax]

I don't know how many of you caught KOTV NEWS STORY on how Bells was finally removed from the Tulsa Fair Grounds, but the story left me with little or no confidence about the Tulsa County Fairboard, and it's Chairman Randi Miller.

In my opinion it would appear the Tulsa County Fair Board is controlled by the Murphy Brothers, and that there is no due process in place. Not only that but unfair and biased treatment of people having business dealing with the Fair board.

What's really important here is that Tulsa County is losing money. Bells always paid it's rent, and as far as I know so did Murphy Brothers. But now there is no bells, and a huge amount of revenue is gone.

Bells was required to provide a business plans on it's operations, where other parties that leased the fairgrounds were not. (The biggest outside of bells, Murphy brothers). Bells did provide several different business plans.

Also they mentioned how Bells needed to have better safety and maintenance in place, which i would agree with. But then again Murphy brothers  I think would need to improve in the same areas as they have had slides break open (Big splash belongs to Murphy brothers). But the unequal expectations set for each party is different for some odd reason, that Randi Miller could not explain in the KOTV interview.

With Drillers trying to find good deals with Cities outside of Tulsa, the Fairgrounds is loosing even more ground, and the mangement by the current board and it's leader Randi Miller needs to seriously be reviewed. While Murphy Brothers may have the golden opportunity and deal of lifetime, Tulsa is losing out.

[Copperhead]

Amadeusmax - many of the concerns contained in your post were expressed as well by Mr. Starch in his published letter in the Tulsa World after the KOTV Channel 6 investigative piece aired, and is certainly worthy of review.  

Additionally, ten readers posted their response in the Comment section, but one in particular by Jay in Tulsa seem to say it all, so I posted it at the end of the story.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/opinion/article.aspx?articleID=070901_7_G2_spanc37181

Great Loss


By Staff Reports
9/2/2007


The Tulsa County Fairgrounds is famous for several things. First, the I.P.E. Building (now QuikTrip Center) is the largest cable-stayed-roof building in the world. Second, that same building is the site of the world's largest gun show. Third, the fairgrounds is now the site of one of the most mean-spirited deals ever meted out to the world of private enterprise. Namely, the fair board's treatment of Bell's.

I recently visited with Bob Bell to thank him and his son for loaning some of their large amusement park tables to a nonprofit I belong to. They have always been generous in assisting various local organizations, but on this day there were mixed emotions on my part. I was pleased that they had been able to help our group, but was deeply saddened by their personal plight.

This wasn't some sort of toy that you fold up and put back in the box until the next time you want to play. We're talking about millions of dollars worth of concrete and steel and miles of all sorts of electrical equipment. This family was given a few brief months to remove that which it took some 55 years to build. What unwholesome machinations of the fair board has caused this?

I understand that Bell's routinely earned more for the fair board than Big Splash and Driller Stadium combined, all operating during the same seasonal period, with the $135,000 payment mentioned routinely by Bell's detractors amounting to only one-third of the $450,000 paid to the board for a great many years.

One wonders if this destruction of years of work by a family-based business could have been prevented had there been no small degree of skullduggery on the part of the fair board and its hiring of an outsider to head up the board. Surely, Tulsa had someone with the credentials needed to operate our own fairgrounds.

It has been a long summer for the kids this year without Bell's. Drive over and take a look at the vast emptiness where there once were families and children having fun.

George W. Starch III, Tulsa


COMMENTS:

7. 9/2/2007 11:55:15 PM, Jay, Tulsa

But didn't Randi Miller look like a deer in headlights when asked why the "business plan" request from Bells and none from Murphy?.

Indeed why not, and one for Murphy's Big Splash Water Park, the Drillers, the simulcast operator and others? Her response, "Well, what I do know is business plans will be asked on every tenant." Sure Randi, we'll not hold our breath on that ever happening.


There is little doubt Murphy's money is just irresistible to those in power, especially Commissioners Miller and Smaligo. Wonder how much Fred Perry received, which he probably just forgot to report? Keep in mind, the amount received could well have exceeded the 5k they're required by law to report. Hell $50,000, $100,000 or more would be chump change to Murphy, especially to eliminate the competition of Bell's! Whatever the amount, what a disgrace and violation of the public trust, IMHO. It would appear the Oath of Office these folks swore to means nothing to them. But truth be known they likely aren't the only ones, current or past, who have done Murphy's bidding, assuring the non-bid midway contract he's held since the 1970's will be safe for at least another 10 years plus options due to the recent renewal!


If the public doesn't call for or demand a full investigation of what appears nothing short of corruption at the fairgrounds involving members of the TCPFA, they deserve the government they've got; the best a Carny's money can buy!


What sleazy whores they are! If an investigation doesn't snag them while on this earth, Karma will, and if indeed Hell exists, they'll be among friends!


Strong but well put Mr. Jay, but don't expect the public to open their windows and scream, "I'm mad as hell and not going to take it anymore!"  The majority of the citizens have just sit back and watched, as Mr. Starch wrote, the "skullduggery!" [!]

It's sad and very unsettling to drive by and see that Bell's is now just a 10-acre parking lot![V] This kind of political in-dealing really stinks!

Let's hope the same Federal "Pitbull" investigators and prosecutors who have stopped at nothing to investigate and prosecute those involved in the Gene Stipe "straw donor" scheme and campaign contribution illegalities will now come North and focus their attention on Tulsa County officials, past and present, and the other players?

[sgrizzle]

I saw a van the other day that said "No Bells, No Fair!"

I think the fair will take some hit. I really think mega-ride passes should've gone down significantly since you now only get the midway which is just 2-3 copies of each of their 6 rides.

While I don't think Bell's was well-managed, they were showing some progress towards redevelopment and were treated very unfairly. The Randi Millers and the Bob Dicks out there need to realize the public is paying attention to politics now and things like Bells and IVI will not just run on by, unnoticed.