Big Splash Owner Pays Late Rent

TULSA, Okla. (AP) - The owner of a Tulsa water park has paid the facility's past-due rent to Tulsa County officials, ending an episode that cost the Tulsa State Fair's top official his job.

Mark Andrus, the interim chief executive officer of Expo Square, says Loretta Murphy, who owns Big Splash Water Park, delivered $130,657 in person to the Tulsa County Public Facilities Authority.

That amount is the total owed to the fair board for 2007.

The water park's rent had been due last Oct. 15, but Murphy had delayed paying it, saying she wanted the fair board to consider giving her a break after what she says were operating losses the business suffered because of a 2007 construction project near the water park.

There was no written agreement between the fair board and the county allowing for such a consideration or to delay payment of the rent.

After learning of the unpaid rent, the board that oversees the Tulsa State Fair fired Expo Square's president and chief operating officer, Rick Bjorklund.