Oklahoma lawmakers are looking at several options to find roughly $40 million in state funding to complete the unfinished American Indian Cultural Center and Museum along the banks of the Oklahoma River southeast of the intersections of Interstates 35 and 40.
Oklahoma Watch’s state Capitol reporter M. Scott Carter attended Monday’s Senate Education Subcommittee on Appropriations hearing packed with lobbyists, lawmakers, state and Oklahoma City officials to gather more information about what officials says would be a “Smithsonian level” facility.
Carter live tweeted the 9:30 a.m. hearing:
Museum would be a 'Smithsonian level' facility. Total cost for remainder of construction would be more than $45 million.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) November 10, 2014
Museum site still has 24/7 security, even though construction isn't complete.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) November 10, 2014
Maintenance, security costs the state $68,000 per month.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) November 10, 2014
Senate committee room packed with lobbyists, lawmakers, state and Oklahoma City officials.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) November 10, 2014
Areas of AICCM, lawmakers are told, will house Smithsonian exhibits.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) November 10, 2014
If museum had been fully funded from the beginning, construction schedule would take taken about 2.5 years.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) November 10, 2014
Least expensive way to finish museum, is to bid out final construction "all at once."
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) November 10, 2014
Rep. David Dank, R-OKC, and Sen. Kyle Loveless, R-OKC, carried legislation this year to complete the AICCM.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) November 10, 2014
Rep. David Dank, R-OKC, and Sen. Kyle Loveless, R-OKC, carried legislation this year to complete the AICCM.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) November 10, 2014
Museum is supported by all 39 federally recognized tribes in Oklahoma.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) November 10, 2014
Project has 3% contingency fund, about $2.4 million.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) November 10, 2014
Lawmakers now questioning Blake Wade, the AICCM's executive director.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) November 10, 2014
Wade: If museum stays with state, will take about $1.5 million per year to operate, about $7 million per year in debt payment.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) November 10, 2014
Wade: When museum is open it will eliminate $1.5 million per year in operational costs. "We fell we can make it on our own."
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) November 10, 2014
Total operating expense would be $3.5 million per year for operating revenue. $ would come from development of site, gate receipts.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) November 10, 2014
Site expects about 300,000 visitors per year.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) November 10, 2014
Wade: Gov. Fallin sent AICCM donors a letter saying, 'please stick with us.'
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) November 10, 2014
Wade: Land can be developed, but can't be a site for a casino.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) November 10, 2014
Sen. Anderson: Language in deed does allow development, prevents casinos.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) November 10, 2014
State Auditor Gary Jones now speaking.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) November 10, 2014
Planned federal funding for AICCM never came through, Jones said.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) November 10, 2014
State History Center and AICCM began about the same time, Jones said. History Center is completed and running.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) November 10, 2014
Jones: State could form a trust authority with OKC or Oklahoma County to manage and operate facility.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) November 10, 2014
Jones: At this time we think other options are available.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) November 10, 2014
Jone: We did not find any fraud in audit of AICCM.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) November 10, 2014
Wade: The AICCM is the last Centennial Project to be completed. If $ had been appropriated, it would have been finished.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) November 10, 2014
Wade: Letter from Gov. Fallin says she asked Wade and others to raise private funds for the project.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) November 10, 2014
Senate hearing is over. Thanks for following us.
— Oklahoma Watch (@OklahomaWatch) November 10, 2014
