Q: I am inquiring about the Buffalo Roam film school that was scheduled to operate in the First Christian Church downtown Bartlesville. Would you please update the public on this venture?
A: The City entered into an agreement with Buffalo Roam in 2021 relating to the development of the former First Christian Church building, located at 520 S. Osage Ave. in Bartlesville.
Per the agreement, the City is to contribute $1 million in matching funds for renovation costs of the existing building upon completion of Phase 1 of the project, which includes the opening of a film academy. An additional $1 million in matching funds is also pledged for further development, which includes the construction of a sound stage north of the existing building.
All funds pledged for the project are contingent upon the expenditure of matching funding by the owner(s) of Buffalo Roam. While financing for the building itself was obtained by the owner(s), no funds have been spent for either Phase 1 or Phase 2. Therefore, no funds have been released to the owner(s) by the City.
The City was made aware recently that one of the two co-owners of Buffalo Roam had separated from the company, which prompted City staff to request updated information from the remaining owner of the business, Jeff Smith. Mr. Smith advised that while the disruption had slowed progress to a degree, the company is much closer to opening the film academy as planned, and that plans for both phases of the project will go forward without the involvement of the former co-owner.
What’s going in there?
Q: What’s going in the old Pizza Hut building downtown?
A: According to the Community Development Department, a Chick O Fish restaurant is planned for the former Pizza Hut building, located at 300 S. Cherokee Ave. City staff have not been given a targeted opening date yet.
How to get City news & holiday trash schedule explained
Q: I missed putting my trash out on my trash day last week because Friday was a holiday. How am I supposed to know it is getting picked up on Wednesday?
A: We’re sorry you missed your trash pickup. Here’s The Rule concerning trash collection and holidays: During holiday weeks, trash collection for the routes typically serviced on the holiday is always on Wednesday of the same week.
So if you’re trash pickup day is Monday and Monday is a holiday, you would put your trash out on Wednesday, two days later, and it would be picked up.
If your trash day is Friday and Friday is a holiday, you would put your trash out on Wednesday, two days before, and it would be picked up.
So if you miss it on Monday or Tuesday, all is not lost. You can just put it out on Wednesday and it will be picked up. But if your trash day is Friday and you didn’t put it out on Wednesday, two days before, well, you’re going to be stuck with a bunch of trash until the next Friday.
If you forget The Rule or simply refuse to commit it to memory, we’ve got you. The schedule for the entire year is posed on the City website here: Refuse & Recycling | City of Bartlesville and on the City Calendar, here: Events – City of Bartlesville.
We also remind you in City Beat (sign up here) and on the City’s Facebook page (City of Bartlesville GOV) and via notifications through our mobile app, MyBartlesville (available on Android and iPhone).