Pryor Creek — The HotelMotel Tax Allocation Board on Dec. 1 approved reimbursements and grants for local events after a presentation from a Chamber representative about recent and upcoming community festivals.

At the meeting, the board voted to reimburse $3,008.75 for the Chamber Bluegrass & Barbecue Festival. The chamber representative said the festival had been approved for $5,000 but actual expenses were about $3,800, listing costs including radio advertising and porta‑potty rentals. “We have not pulled a report there to verify, but we can pull that report and see if we can see how many people came from that area,” the chamber representative said when asked whether the advertising could be tracked. The representative estimated overall attendance at “about 3,000 to 3,500 people.”

Board members moved and seconded the reimbursement motion and members present voted in favor.

The board also considered a request related to the Prairie Chamber of Commerce for an Oki Homes Expo. The application amount discussed was $3,500 to cover event center rental and related costs; the chamber representative said the expo runs multiple days, draws out‑of‑state visitors and about 100–125 vendors, and that the chamber often fronts rental fees to secure venues. A motion to recommend council action on the $3,500 request passed unanimously.

On a separate item, the board reviewed a final expense report for Santa’s Christmas Village. The transcript shows the expense listed as $2,220 and notes an earlier application approval for $250; the presiding member moved to approve an expense reimbursement of $220, the motion was seconded, and the vote carried. The precise relationship among the $2,220 figure, the previously approved $250, and the $220 reimbursement approved at the meeting was not clarified in discussion.

Throughout the meeting the chamber representative outlined operational details and observations, including radio advertising comprised of 30‑second spots, suggestions to concentrate stages and vendors closer together at future events, and a plug for an upcoming parade and downtown carnival that she said had about 60–65 entries so far (last year had 62). The representative identified Sunny Lee of Fox 23 as the parade grand marshal.

The meeting opened with a brief procedural question about whether to take a roll call and concluded quickly after the scheduled items were handled. The board adjourned following the votes.