The Daily O’Collegian

The Stillwater City Commission voted in favor of designating $20,000 from the city budget to go toward improvements in the downtown area Monday.

“Already our staff have been setting up booths at the Stillwater County Fair and the State Capitol to raise money for the many projects set forth by Downtown Stillwater,” said Andy Kincaid, Downtown Stillwater Unlimited director.

Kincaid said these projects include Crazy Days, Lights Over Stillwater, the Payne County Fair, Oklahoma City State Fair and the Parade of Lights.

“The funds received from the city will go toward training and staff salaries,” Kincaid said.

When the bid district becomes available in 1 1/2 years, the bid will be separate from the City of Stillwater financing, he said.

“Consolidation may be available, but nothing has been planned yet,” Kincaid said.

Ralph Kinder, Public Works director, said there will be a new format for the transportation project status updates.

“The monthly reports will still be available on the City of Stillwater Web site in the Current Projects section,” Kinder said.

The Commission considered an ordinance that would allow the formation of a Stillwater Wellness Committee.

City Manager Dan Galloway said there was already a committee in place called the Mayor’s Wellness Committee, founded in 1982, but the group was not fully recognized as a standing committee within Stillwater.

“We would like the commission to establish this committee as a legal entity, such as a non-profit group, or make them an official committee,” Galloway said.

The Mayor’s Wellness Committee has previously hosted programs like Red Ribbon Week and tobacco awareness programs, he said.

“The committee will be a group of people concerned with the health, welfare and well-being of the public,” he said.

Galloway said if the committee was organized, they could get assistance from the state that could not be achieved by a private group.

The Commission recognized this week as Stillwater Arbor Week and the week of April 8-13 as OSU Student Employee Week.