The Elk City Commissioners met for their regular meeting Wed., May 16th, at 2 p.m. in City Hall with all commissioners present. Mayor Corey Spieker opened the meeting with an invocation, which was followed by the flag salute led by Rod Carver. The first order of business was the approval of the minutes from the May 1st meeting.
Item number one on the agenda was the introduction of Ordinance No. 1251: An Ordinance of the City of Elk City, amending the Elk City Code of Ordinances; Chapter 3. Animal, Article 1. General Provisions, Section 3-9. Dogs/ Cats/ Ferrets/Etc.; Rabies Vaccination, License, Fee Paragraph 10 adding Paragraph 11. According to City Manager Tom Ivester the ordinance will solve a problem with an animal that comes into animal control that is vicious and requires a mandatory quarantine. This will up the fines for the mandatory quarantine, but not for other offenses. The ordinance will distinguish between the offenses. No action was taken because it was introduced at this meeting.
The next item on the agenda was to approve Ordinance No. 1252: An Ordnance changing the zoning classification of a tract of land situated in Block 13, Herring Addition, Beckham County, Elk City from R-1, Single Family Residential District to A-1, Agricultural District. This ordinance was introduced at the last meeting and was supported by the Planning and Zoning Commission. The commissioners approved the change.
They also approved the Joint Railroad Freight Service Agreement Contract FMRC C-106/GNBC C-121 between the Elk City Industrial Authority and Farmrail Corporation and Grainbelt Corporation to transport aggregates from Martin Marietta Materials quarry to Elk City Rock Yard. This is a two-year agreement that Ivester recommended for approval.
The commissioners approved Change Order No. 1 for Orr Construction for the Main Street Waterline and Storm Sewer Project in the amount of $88,150. A representative from Orr was present to explain the reasoning behind the change, and City Treasurer Jennifer Rainey said that there will be a negative change order coming that will off-set this increase.
The Pay App #3 for Orr Construction for the Main Street Waterline and Storm Sewer Plan project in the amount of $268,382.79, a budgeted item, was approved. Also approved was the Pay Application #13 to Joe D. Hall General Contractors, LLC for the CAPP project – Aquatic Center in the amount of $579,754.75, a budgeted item.
The payoff for the Elementary School note with the Bank of Oklahoma in the amount of $2,321,509.34 was approved. This payoff led the way to the half cent sales tax continuation for remodel and improvements for the police and fire stations.
The next four items on the agenda were dealing with dilapidated structures. The first one, located at 1402/1406 S. Simpson was approved as dilapidated and ordered to be removed. The owner was not present at the meeting, and city inspector Jackie Addington told the commissioners that nothing had been done since the March 15th meeting where it had been tabled. No one has been living at the house.
The structure located at 420 S. Adams was tabled until August 16th, giving the owner more time to try to sell the house and/or make improvement so it can be sold. The structure located at 1016 W. 8th was tabled until the Aug. 7th meeting. The owner was present and told the commissioners he needed more time to fix the back of the house. Addington said that the roof has been repaired, but the back of the house needed attention.
The last structure on the agenda, located at 104 Meadowridge, was disapproved as dilapidated. The owner was present, and the commissioners commended him for fixing the building. They thanked him for the improvements and therefore removed it from further notifications.
The commissioners approved the Purchase Orders FY 22-23 and recurring invoices for May 17, and then heard the City Manager’s Report. Ivester told them that they are working on the RV dumpsite at Elk Lake, as well as completing asphalting on the RV spots that they have added. He also talked about the “B With You” program at the library. The second event brought out 96 kids, many who were dressed up for the event.
Ivester also told the commissioners that the new CDL program was successful. They have had two complete the program and four now in the program. He said that they are conducting the training themselves with the condition that the students agree to work for the city or pay back the cost of the class. He said one of the students has finished and paid them back.
They had eight school groups at the park last week, and 168 spectators in attendance at the semi-pro basketball exhibition in the Arrowhead Center. Ivester said that they will be evaluating the feasibility of having a semi-pro team in Elk City.
Dr. Bintz’s water line is now coming from the city and not through the cemetery waterline. Ivester also told the commissioners that the Merritt fourth graders presented the animal shelter with gifts that were much needed, and they will make a big impact at the facility. He also said that the situation with the price of rock between Caswell and Martin Marietta is still being worked on.
The first round of the budget process has been presented, and they will be working on the second round of the process over the next few weeks. It must be approved by the end of June. The engineers have been working on two additional projects that include a waterline and sewer line. The engineers will be looking for funding and/or loan repayment programs for them.
The pool will not be open by Memorial Day, but Ivester said that they hope it will be ready by the middle of June. The lifeguards are being trained now to get ready for the opening. As soon as the city gets the keys to the center, Ivester said they will open it to the public.
In the monthly financial report, the biggest news was the additional interest income. Because Rainey was proactive in finding the best interest rates, the city brought in $58,000 in interest during the month of April. Rainey told the commissioners that the sales tax was up by 5 percent over last month and up 7 percent over this time last year. The use tax was down by 3 percent and the cigarette tax was down by 17 percent.
The meeting adjourned at 2:48 p.m., and the next meeting will take place on June 5th at 7 p.m. in City Hall.
