“When the people fear their government, there is tyranny. When the government fears the people, there is liberty — Thomas Jefferson” read one of approximately a dozen signs held at a public meeting Thursday evening.

There were nearly 100 people who attended the second public meeting required by law, before the commissioner’s make the decision whether or not to approve the Tax Increment Financing.

When signing in, people were asked to note if they wanted to make a comment during the proceedings. About 12 people requested to speak.

Two Kingston police officers stood quietly at the back of the room.

“We were sent by the chief to make sure things didn’t get out of hand,” said Officer D.W. Jones, adding that they didn’t expect trouble and their presence was merely precautionary.

Kingston resident Vicky Gaylor didn’t wait for the meeting to open before sharing her views.

“It’s a rip-off. They lied to us over five years ago,” she said. She said she opposed the sale of Lake Texoma land from the very beginning.

“They (Pointe Vista) shouldn’t have bid if they didn’t have the money (to build),” Gaylor said, adding that she is opposed to tax payers taking on the burden of the TIF if it were to be approved.

“They called us ignorant and said we don’t understand TIF,” she said.

Gaylor said in Pointe Vista’s arguments, they compared the Texoma region to TIF building projects in Oklahoma City. However, the economy and sizes of the two places (OKC and Kingston) are too different to be comparable.

“I just want them to tell me how it’s not going into our pockets,” Gaylor said.

She said while Pointe Vista is getting tax breaks, the results of the construction will be a need for a larger fire department and police force and the school and property taxes will go up.

“They have already started surveying in Rolling Hills,” Gaylor said.

Gaylor posed the question, “Who is going to pay all those taxes?” She said it would be the people of the county, not Pointe Vista.

County Commissioner Royce Bartee and Attorney Nate Ellis, retained as special TIF council, sat on the stage to address concerns.

Bartee opened the public forum at about 7 p.m. by reminding people that the purpose of the forum was for people to share their opinions on the proposed TIF. He asked that people keep their comments to three minutes.

“No personal attacks,” he said.

Bartee also told the crowd that there would be a commissioner’s meeting held at 1 p.m. today to vote on the TIF.

One speaker, Monty Withal, said he didn’t understand why the developer was getting tax breaks when there were other services in the community that could benefit from that. He also expressed concerns about sewage plans and is worried the lake would be used for that purpose.

Ellis said no sewage would enter the lake.

Many companies use rivers, Withal said. The Texoma area has a river, “but it goes into the lake.”

He was concerned about that impact to Lake Texoma and was met with applause.

Dwight Trent said he had a weekend house.

“When I look at the plans they (Pointe Vista) have, I’m not going to be living there,” he said, adding that it was designed for a bunch of rich people and the kind of place he comes here to get away from.

Trent said Pointe Vista got a “bargain basement price,” adding that just for a lake front lot at Soldier Creek, the cost is $300,000.

Eldon White moved to the area from Oklahoma City and said he opposed the construction plans of Pointe Vista.

“I came here to retire and live a quiet and happy life,” he said.

Boyd Steele, president of Friends of Lake Texoma State Park, said he was concerned about the roads and infrastructure built under the TIF.

“I want to know who will be responsible for road upkeep, police, emergency services …” he said.

“That will all be worked out,” Bartee said.

Steele said that all they are really asking for is the right to vote whether or not the TIF should be approved. It should be a vote of the people and not a decision made by the commissioners.

Steele said if the commissioners elected to approve the TIF, “we are planning to pass a referendum.”

“That is within your right,” Bartee said.

One citizen expressed concerns that if Pointe Vista doesn’t build, they wouldn’t have to pay taxes.

Bartee said Pointe Vista would be building and the taxes would be utilized for development of the property.

Kathy Withal wanted to know what guarantee was in place to ensure there would be construction.

Bartee told her she was getting ahead of herself.

“This has not even come to vote yet — if that happens. Things will be set up,” he said.

“The baseline amount continues to flow to entities. If you live outside the increment, it will not affect taxes,” Ellis said.

Mark Codner thanked the members of the TIF committee, saying he agrees with the TIF and supports it.

“I encourage the community to approve it,” he said.

Codner said TIFs have been successful before and they can be again. Also, a TIF district is a way for Marshall County to help themselves.

Steve Willis, founder of Friends of Lake Texoma State Park, said he was concerned because of the lack of an environmental assessment from sections of the Pointe Vista sale.

Willis was met with applause when he said a study was done four years ago for the expansion of the park, not to sell it. He said Pointe Vista was not even created when that study was done.

David Bernstein said he wanted to know what kind of revenue was expected from the hotel.

Bartee said the forum was supposed to be for comments, not questions.

Bernstein said that without the TIF, all tax dollars would go directly into the county, so he wanted to know what the point of the TIF was when Pointe Vista had already agreed to build the motel.

Bernstein, who lives in Norman but has a summer home in the area, said he is familiar with TIFs in Norman. He said they usually run 50/50. However, “here it’s 90/10.”

He asked if they tried to get the best deal for the county. He said his concern is for the county and the money they are losing if this plan were to be approved.

Another speaker told the crowd, “Let’s be reasonable. What is going to happen if the TIF is closed? You will end up with a state park and nothing going on if it doesn’t pass.” He was also met with applause.

Mike Reynolds said he was disappointed that a copy of the resolution had not been made available. They were told taxes can only be increased by the people, but that doesn’t include property tax.

He said with the construction, people nearby would see increased property values and higher taxes.

Ellis said that was a true statement, but it depended on how things went.

A supporter of the TIF told the crowd that he encouraged everyone to research TIFs before making their decisions.

Dallas has 17 TIFs with a 20 percent increase in economy compared to a 0.1 percent increase in non-TIF areas, he said. Property taxes may go up but that is also more value to their property.

“Educate yourself and see what they can do,” he said.

Gaylor said the lake area has a lot of retired people who would have to move if property taxes went too high. She was also concerned about endangered species and nesting areas of the Bald Eagles who have made a come back from being on that list.

Gaylor said people cannot compare a low-economy area like Marshall County to larger cities like Dallas and Oklahoma City when talking about TIFs and would like to see results of places more comparable.

She said the economy has gone down in the area.

“You (Pointe Vista) ripped it out from under us when you closed the lodge,” Gaylor said.

Jenny Fox wanted to know who would be in charge of TIF monies that would go back into the construction projects of Pointe Vista. She asked if it would be country commissioners or appointees of the commissioners.

She said she also wanted to verify if these same people would be in charge of what projects were done.

“Correct each time,” Ellis said.

Art Heckler, supporter of the TIF, told the crowd, “Every person in this room had a right to bid on this,” and that the bidding was made public as the law states.

“This is a win/win situation,” Heckler said, adding that people have the opportunity to outbid Pointe Vista in sections not sold yet.

He said anyone who has spent time learning about the TIFs and the impact they can have on the community would say, “Let them start.”

When there were no more comments, Bartee said it was important for people to know that Pointe Vista has the best interest of the county and the people at heart.

Asked what he thought about the meeting, Ellis said, “It’s always good when people show up for public meetings.”