Guthrie mayor hopes ride helps fund treatment plant

GUTHRIE — Mayor Chuck Burtcher will have a meeting Wednesday to discuss plans for an annual bike ride to raise money for the city.

The meeting will begin 6:30 p.m. at Pizza Hut, 218 Heather Road.

Burtcher plans to have a bike ride in May that would take riders on a scenic ride through the nearby countryside.

At this point, much of the plans have yet to be hammered out, but Burtcher said he will have public meetings at least once a week so that the event goes off as planned.

He hopes to make the ride an annual event.

"I would be so tickled if we had 1,000 riders the first year,” Burtcher said. "Someday I’d like to see 13,000 to 15,000 people coming in to ride this ride.”

Proceeds from the event would go to pay off the city’s new water treatment plant, Burtcher said.

Construction crews will begin building the new $15 million plant next month, he said.

The city raised its water and trash rates last year to pay for the plant.

Burtcher said the city will be paying for the new facility for the next several years, so he hopes the ride will raise enough funds for the city to pay off the treatment plant early.

Someday I’d like to see 13,000 to 15,000 people coming in to ride this ride.”

Mayor Chuck Burtcher