Council approves $15,000 rodeo reimbursement and $6,250 fireworks grant

The Alva Town Council voted to reimburse the college rodeo $15,000 and approved a grant of up to $6,250 to the Alva Rotary Club for a fireworks show during a meeting whose date was not specified in the transcript.

Council members said they would honor a prior approval for the rodeo even though the event organizer submitted receipts later than the town’s 90‑day requirement. Council action on both items passed on roll call votes recorded in the meeting transcript.

Cali, who gave the rodeo recap to the council, said the college rodeo drew roughly 764 contestant entries and about 1,215 people through the gate. “We had, like, 764 total entries,” Cali said. She told the council the event’s total cost was higher than last year and reported an increase in stock charges tied to cattle prices; the transcript states the total cost this year as spoken: “19.06 50,” and that cost was “up $2,790 from the previous year.” Cali said the rodeo’s weekend produced busy hotels and increased local restaurant traffic.

Council discussion noted the town’s usual 90‑day receipts requirement for tourism reimbursements and that a transition of staff and organizers contributed to the late submission. A staff review found no evidence a check had been cut earlier. The council motion to reimburse the rodeo, for $15,000, passed with three recorded yes votes.

The council also considered an application from the Alva Rotary Club for fireworks funding that had been tabled previously. A motion to approve the Rotary application not to exceed $6,250 passed on roll call with three recorded yes votes. Several Rotarians attended the meeting; council members thanked the Rotary Club for organizing the fireworks show.

The meeting also included a vote to approve the minutes of the April 16, 2025 regular meeting; that motion passed on a roll call with three recorded yes votes.

Votes at a glance

- Approve minutes of meeting 04/16/2025 — Approved (roll call tally: yes 3, no 0, abstain 0). - Rodeo receipts reimbursement — Motion to reimburse $15,000 approved (roll call tally: yes 3, no 0, abstain 0). - Alva Rotary fireworks grant — Motion to approve funding not to exceed $6,250 approved (roll call tally: yes 3, no 0, abstain 0).

Council did not record any amendments to the motions in the transcript provided. The meeting record shows the council accepted the late submission of receipts for the rodeo because of transition-related delays, and directed staff to process the approved reimbursements per the town’s prior authorization.