GRDA leasing office space in Oklahoma City's Bricktown

Thursday, January 12th 2006, 8:59 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A state agency that manages the Grand River and provides electricity in northeastern Oklahoma is renting office space in Oklahoma City at more than twice the price other agencies pay.

The Grand River Dam Authority is leasing a 1,500 square foot office in the Bricktown area for $23 a square foot. State officials say other agencies pay $9 to $9.15 per square foot for office space.

The dam authority is opening the office in early February and chief executive Kevin Easley says it will be used to lobby the Legislature and to provide tourism materials to people visiting the Bricktown entertainment district.

Easley says the rent will drop to $11.50 per square foot for the second, third and fourth years of the lease. The total cost this year will be $34,500 and will be $17,250 each of the remaining three years.