Prior to opening the commissioners’ meeting, Western Technology Center’s Business and Industry Director, Danny Britton, presented Dr. Dennis Friesen with an appreciation plaque for his years of service as the medical doctor for WTC’s EMS program. The Commissioners congratulated him for his service, not only for this award but for the years of serving as the medical director for the Elk City Fire Department.
After the presentation, Mayor Cory Speiker called the meeting to order, and he gave the invocation while Rod Carver led the flag salute. Jeff Waters was absent from the meeting. The first item on the agenda was a presentation by Katie Archer and Audrey Firth Winn of REES Architectural firm, along with Van Storm of Joe D. Hall General Contractors, LLC.
The three showed slides of the two facilities and changes from what they had originally presented when the city contracted with the firm to design the two projects. City Manager, Tom Ivester, pointed out that they have been meeting with both departments to come up with the final design. Archer also noted that they had visited five or six different fire departments with Chief Kyle Chervenka to come up with the final touches.
Then Storm talked to the commissioners about the final costs and projections from the original budget. He said that the fire facility was what he expected, but he had more questions about the final cost of the police renovations because it would be taking the building down to the basics. There would be more unknowns in the process of that renovation, but he expected they would be able to stay within budget. Additionally, he said that when they put the projects out for bid, they would list them separately and together. This will give them more options in the bidding process.
The commissioners approved both projects in the one vote. The next item on the agenda was the approval of the Ordinance No. 1259: An Ordinance changing the zoning classification of a tract of land from General Agricultural District to C-2 Highway Commercial Recreation District. This item was heard at the last commission meeting. There are nine feet that need to be added to a tract of land to build a car wash.
They also approved the Legal Representation Agreement between the City of Elk City and McAfee & Taft, a professional corporation and Fulmer & Sill in the case regarding PFAS and Aqueous Film-Forming Forms (AFFF’s) and others for damages and equitable relief arising out of the conduct of the defendant in connection with the manufacturing marketing and distribution of PFAS & AFFF’s. Ivester explained this item as national deadlines for class actions for the PFAS and what is called forever chemicals that were used in firefighter foam. The deadlines for class action groups are approaching, and this is needed to meet those deadlines.
The commissioners approved a State of Oklahoma Department of Transportation Project Maintenance, Financing, and Right-of-way Agreement – Elk City Streetscape on S. Main from 5th to 7th Street Intersection Project No. TAP3-8008(004)TP State Job No: 38008(04). This is part of the streetscape project that has been on hold for the past four years, and there is money set aside for it.
Payment to Warren Cat for repairs to landfill compactor in the amount of $59,877.82 was approved, as was State Contract purchase of two front deck mowers from Western Equipment, LLC in the amount of $73, 469.26. The purchase of equipment to host Esports events from Sweetwater Music Instruments & Pro Audio in the amount of $36,565.80 was also approved.
There were eight change orders approved for Joe D. Hall for the Elk City Aquatic Center. Those changes were: $3191 for changing locker size and re-routing storm drain lines; $112,971.48 for concrete change at pool deck at the food truck area, change low voltage for fiber, change drainage line from pump house to sump pump and add sealer to bath house floor; $17,722.70 to add sidewalk to west side of pool facility, add power for garbage disposal, and add water and drain line for ice machine; $12,693 for pool rule sign to change occupancy, sealcoat, and crack filling of existing and tie in area, add expanded metal at pump house per Health Dept, add in-ground outlets and panel stands for ice machine and add networking equipment; $3,479.84 for signage addition per Health Dept., add ladder entrance and safety gate to pump catch basin; $36,249.12 to install conduit for cameras and Part 1 irrigation, landscaping sod; $115,665 for Part 2 irrigation, landscaping, sod and CM fees, landscaping trees compost mulch staking plus CM fees, natural stone benches labor and CM fees; $114,577.44 for power to new exhaust fan in pump house, materials for north wall of pump house, landscaping sod and irrigation, CM fees.
Van Storm was there to answer questions about each of the change orders, along with City Treasurer Jennifer Rainey. With these changes there is still money remaining in the final budget.
Pay Application #18 for Joe D. Hall General Contractors LLC for Aquatic Center in the amount of $78,710, a budgeted item, was approved. The commissioners also approved Mayor Spieker’s appointment of Rodney Cloud to the Elk City Museum Board with a term of Oct. 2023 to 2028.
The Purchase Orders FY 2324 and recurring invoices for Oct. 18, 2023, were approved. Then the commissioners heard reports from IT and the Waste Water Plant supervisors.
In the City Manager’s Report, Ivester covered three points. The first one was the violation from the Department of Environmental Quality for potential contamination of a vault. This happened to contain some telephone cables. The vault had water in it. The city found the water leak and repaired it. The city had 15 days to respond to DEQ and met that deadline. There was a surprise visit from a DEQ representative who told Ivester verbally that it looked good.
The next item was the problem with water billing from last month. He said that they did find some issues and they are working to correct them. He encouraged anyone who has questions to call city hall.
The last item that Ivester talked about was the event that the library had with the solar eclipse. They gave out 72 pairs of glasses for the event, and he estimated that there were over 100 kids that showed up Sat. morning around 11 a.m. to watch the eclipse.
The financial report was given, which indicated the new system conversion has been hard and overall, the first quarter looked good. Rainey gave the sales numbers for Oct. She noted that there was a three percent increase in sales tax from the same month in the prior year; the use tax decreased by 38 percent, and cigarette tax was down by nine percent.
