Hurry Up Bell's!

[Rowdy]

I can't believe we as taxpayers are giving the Bells family $210,000 to dismantle the Zingo faster. KRMG had a good point when asking what the rush was for and there was really no good answer. When asked about recouping the money, there was no real answer either.

Seems like moneys were given due to emotional reasons for the most part.

[sgrizzle]

Didn't know it was happening.

Might we be close to finding an ulterior motive for having Bells out?

[cannon_fodder]

Fair Board Approves $210,000 to help Bell's Move.
http://tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=070522_1_A9_Theco53425

KRMG talked to Randy Miller this morning and I was left even more against this gift that before she explained it.

Apparently, it is an "emotional issue" and they want to "do everything we can to work with and help the Bell family."  Poor Robby Bell has been working "by himself with a wrench" to take down the Zingo and just wont get it done in time.  Because its "emotional" they dont want to enforce the contract and fine them if they are not out on time.

quote:
Joe Kelley Question:  "You must have a plan to recoup the $210,000 - it has to come from somewhere.  Right?"

- Absolutely.

Joe - "Well, what's the plan?"

- "It will be used for parking . . . maybe VIP parking or something.  But with the horse show, the gun show and the fair coming up the parking will be utilized."

Joe - "Paid parking?"

- That is something we do not decide.

Joe - Well, that doesnt make up the $210,000 then, where is the money coming from?

- I Just want to make it clear that we want the best for th Bell family (continues to ignore the question.

First they kick out Bells WITHOUT A PLAN for the land, which I was against.  If they had a damn plan for something better, fine.  But the main reason for kicking the out was because the business plan indicated they would go belly up and we would have to pay for it.  We were ASSURED that the space would not just be parking.

Now we are paying for it anyway and the space is going to be parking.  The two things we sought to avoid in the first place.

-----

And lastly, I do not care how 'mean' it seems we are being to Robby Bell.  He ran his business into the ground, tough crap.  Get out on time or pay the fines.  If I ran my business into the ground the government wouldnt pay me $210,000 to help salvage it.

[Rowdy]

Yeah, that interview she gave was absolutely ridiculous.  Here ya go Bell, have fun with the $210,000.00

[patric]

If Bells didnt finish on time, wouldnt the county have had to pay for it's dismantling anyway (since they're in a rush for more Murphy/parking space)?

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by patric

If Bells didnt finish on time, wouldnt the county have had to pay for it's dismantling anyway (since they're in a rush for more Murphy/parking space)?

They could knock it over and haul it off.

[cannon_fodder]

They could knock it down, haul it off, and then charge him for their trouble.

He is in breach of his terms, not the county.

[guido911]

I am relocating soon and the process is very emotional to me. I am having to pack my own clothes and furniture with my own hands. Can I get some tax payer money to help me move?

This is friggin unreal.

[Conan71]

quote:Originally posted by guido911

I am relocating soon and the process is very emotional to me. I am having to pack my own clothes and furniture with my own hands. Can I get some tax payer money to help me move?

This is friggin unreal.

I'm into give-aways with my money.  PM me your email address and I'll mail you a check for $210K.  I hope that will help with the stress, Guido. []

They should have just ponied up between the councilors and bought Robby and his workers some crank.  Would've been a lot cheaper and they'd be done next week.

[AMP]

Fair Board should also approve funding to re-assemble the Roller Coaster at the new location.

I believe that had you lived in the apartments to the west of Jamil's Steak house on East 51st street recently you would of received a check for $5,000 for moving expenses from ODOT due to the expansion of I-44.

This seems to be a similar situation where the Fair Board needed the property for future projects that Bell's was leasing.  They made that statement in their response.

Seems only fair for them to assist with the move.  How many millions of dollars has the Fair Board earned from the rent that Bell's has paid them for 50 years of occupancy?  How many millions of dollars of Tulsa State Fair Tickets were purchased by Fair goers for years, that were drawn to the Fair primarily by the Bells attractions?

Sharing a few dollars of those proceeds does not seem out of line to me.  I still believe that Bell's Amusement Park should of been one of the Vision 2025 projects.  

Guess construction of a new water park in Broken Arrow, and the giant park improvement project east of hwy 75 near downtown were much more important than perserving or moving the only existing Amusement Park in Tulsa County.  

Look around Expo Square and you will see several Vision 2025 projects and improvements.  I still cannont understand why Bell's was left out of that funding.  

Kudos to the Fair Board for approving funding for helping to perserve Zingo!

[rwarn17588]

AMP wrote:

Fair Board should also approve funding to re-assemble the Roller Coaster at the new location.

<end clip>

That's a big caveat -- "at the new location."

There is going to be no new location as long as Robby Bell runs the amusement park.

If someone buys the assets off him (and that's a big if), then there MAY be interest.

[cannon_fodder]

AMP, you have to be kidding me.

Bell's was a RENTER at the fair grounds.  Bell's did not own the land and thus can be made to leave at any time under the terms of the contract.  The people moving due to the I-44 project were evicted using eminent domain and thus have to be compensated.

Bell's is a business for profit.  They paid rent and they made money. It was a BUSINESS.  It is not the county's fault nor responsibility to subsidize poorly run businesses.  Name a company that could go 10 years without doing any improvements and stay in business?

quote:How many millions of dollars has the Fair Board earned from the rent that Bell's has paid them for 50 years of occupancy? How many millions of dollars of Tulsa State Fair Tickets were purchased by Fair goers for years, that were drawn to the Fair primarily by the Bells attractions?

How many millions have the Bell's earned while renting county land for cheap?  Again, it was a BUSINESS decision.  Just like renting office space - it is no favor to the landlord.

And I would surmise if one party benefited more than the other, Bell's leached off of the state fair.  

If we denied the contract for the Tallon's to play in the convention center shall we pay them to go somewhere else too?  What other businesses should the county support?

[guido911]

Thanks Conan, but my relocation is local.

BTW, Screw Bell's amusement park. The way it looks now is the best it has looked for years.

[LilMikey]

I think Miller inadvertently tipped her hand this morning on KRMG.  If you listened closely enough, you heard her let it slip that what they were going to use Bell's spot for was VIP parking.

Translation:  Free parking for Miller, her family and business cronies.  

Am I suggesting that Miller and the rest of her staff would stoop so low as to remove a Tulsa landmark just for a better parking spot?  YOU BETCHA!  She has no care for Tulsa or for those for whom she works.  In her little mind, the rest of us actually work for her.

Ah yes, the corrupt wheels of Tulsa county politics is alive and well, and are freely spinning.

[jne]

[/quote]
They should have just ponied up between the councilors and bought Robby and his workers some crank.  Would've been a lot cheaper and they'd be done next week.
[/quote]

I would bet that a small percentage of that 210,000 will do just that?