Van Buren A&P approves 2011 media plan

story by Marla Cantrell
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The Van Buren Advertising and Promotion Commission met on Wednesday (Oct. 13) to discuss the 2011 media plan. The project comes with a price tag of $179,099, an increase of just $49 over last year’s budget.

The majority of that money will go to billboards located in strategic areas in Mountainburg, Mulberry, Lowell, Sallisaw, Van Buren, Fort Smith, Tulsa and Oklahoma City.

The breakdown is as follows:
Outdoor Advertising – $89,847
Print and TV – $61,875
Brochures – $12,900
Production – $14,450

New for next year is the addition of advertising with The City Wire. Brent McCord, with Williams/Crawford & Associates said the decision was an easy one.

“If there’s news out there, The City Wire gets it out within the hour,” McCord said.

Maryl Koeth, executive director of the Van Buren Advertising and Promotions Commission, agreed.

“The City Wire is also tied to Channel 5, so Channel 5 will reference stories on The City Wire and vice-versa,” Koeth said. “There’s so many cross links with this particular publication.”

The Drennen-Scott House, which is tentatively due to open next March, is also taking center stage next year. The proposed media plan for the historic site sets aside $4,000 for a new TV spot, and $2,400 for a new brochure.

In other business, the commission set aside $3,500, with an option to increase that amount by $1,000, if needed, for the first of 13 crosswalks to be installed in downtown Van Buren. The commission may need the extra money if the design company can add the Seal of Van Buren to the center of the first crosswalk, which will cross Main Street in front of the Frisco Depot.

The crosswalk has a faux herringbone red brick pattern, that Koeth said will compliment the historic district, and will be an additional safety feature for the heavy foot traffic in the downtown area.

The commission also awarded Hubbs Lyon and Company in Van Buren the contract to conduct the annual audit at a cost of $2,800. Koeth said she sent out invitations for bids and Hubbs was the only one to respond. She also said they’ve done excellent work with the commission in the past and that their price was reasonable.

As for the economy, Koeth said, for the third month in a row, she’s seen signs of improvements. August tax receipts were $32,433, up 2% from August 2009.

“It’s good news,” Koeth said, “but it’s not a full-blown recovery yet.”