Opponents to Bass Pro deal cite poll

Journal Record, The (Oklahoma City), Apr 4, 2002

A citizens group opposed to Oklahoma City plans to use financial incentives to attract a Bass Pro Shops retail development to the downtown area said Wednesday a new poll shows 67 percent of those surveyed oppose the use of tax dollars for the project while 22 percent favor it.

The poll by Baselice and Associates of 506 randomly selected Oklahoma City voters March 27 and 28 includes a margin of error of plus or minus 4.5 percent. Poll results were released by the group, Citizens Against Taxpayer Abuse.

The Oklahoma City Council in March authorized the city manager to begin lease negotiations with Springfield, Mo.-based Bass Pro Inc. to bring a development by the retailer to Bricktown. The lease agreement is expected to include an offer by the city to build a 110,000- square-foot store, which would then be leased to Bass Pro Shops for at least 15 years. The city would retain ownership of the property.

Oklahoma City plans to fund the project with lease payments by the retailer and a share of increased tax revenue that results from the business development.

Mayor Kirk Humphreys said the development is good for the city, because it would attract other business development to Oklahoma City and increase the city's tax base.

Businesses listed as members the citizens group that released the poll include real estate developer John A. Henry & Co., The Oklahoma City Florist, Hefner Bait & Tackle and Academy Sports and Outdoors, according to the group's Web site. Other members are River's Edge and attorney James W. Rucker.

The group is behind an ad campaign in newspapers and radio spots that has criticized the use of tax dollars for the development.

Duke honors McClendons

A tower that is part of the "signature element" of Duke University's new 350-bed student residence hall complex will be named for alumni Kathleen Byrns McClendon and Aubrey K. McClendon, Duke President Nannerl O. Keohane announced Wednesday.

Duke's Board of Trustees voted to name the McClendon Tower for the couple in recognition of the McClendons' dedication to the "enhancement of student life at Duke" and their staunch support of a "unified West Campus facility." The new residence complex, the West- Edens Link, is under construction on Duke's West Campus in Durham, N.C., and is scheduled to open in the fall.

Kathleen "Katie" Byrns McClendon is a 1980 Duke graduate and a member of the Board of Visitors of Trinity College, in which about 85 percent of Duke undergraduates are enrolled. Aubrey McClendon, a member of the Campaign for Duke Steering Committee and the Fuqua School of Business Board of Visitors, graduated from Trinity College in 1981. The McClendons live in Oklahoma City, where Aubrey McClendon is chairman and chief executive officer of Chesapeake Energy.

The McClendons met in 1978 as undergraduates at Duke, where Katie was a member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority and Aubrey was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. During the past 20 years, they and their three children have been frequent visitors to the campus.

"Through our gift of the tower, we are hoping to assist the university in enhancing the on-campus residential life at Duke," the McClendons said. "We strongly believe that it is critical for the university to provide on-campus facilities that encourage students to spend their four-year undergraduate life on campus."

In 1999, the McClendons gave Duke two charitable trusts with a combined value of $5.5 million to support improvements throughout the university, specifically to residence halls, as well as financial aid for students, the Duke Annual Fund and the Fuqua School of Business. The assets of both trusts become available to Duke this year.

In addition, the McClendons have also committed $1 million to the Duke Basketball Legacy Fund.

The five-level McClendon Tower will be the site of new dining, social and activity spaces open to all community members. There will be levels dedicated to a cafe and a diner, and other levels will have lounges, game rooms and meeting space.

Driving costs drop

The average cost of driving a new car has dropped 0.8 cent per mile from one year ago to an estimated 50.2 cents per mile, AAA's annual Your Driving Costs study shows. It was the first decline reported by AAA since 1993 when driving costs declined .1 cent per mile to 38.7 cents.

According to AAA Oklahoma, most of this year's decline in annual automobile costs was due to lower 2001 fuel prices. "Pump prices were at their lowest level in three years at the beginning of 2002, when this study was conducted," said Chuck Mai, AAA Oklahoma spokesman. "The higher gasoline costs we're seeing this spring are not reflected in these expense figures."

AAA's annual Your Driving Costs study reports motorists driving 15,000 miles this year will spend an average of $7,533 on auto- related expenses, down $121 from a year earlier.

Operating costs -- gas and oil, maintenance and tires -- decreased 1.8 cents from 13.6 cents to 11.8 cents per mile as a result of lower prices at the gas pump. Ownership costs increased 41 cents per day, however, from $15.38 per day to $15.79.