American Heritage Bank receives Golden Bulldozer award for city beautification
/Photo: Morgan Miller
By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief
Sand Springs Mayor Mike Burdge awarded the Golden Bulldozer Award to a representative from American Heritage Bank at this Monday's regular City Council meeting. The bank was recognized for their work in removing dilapidated structures, thereby contributing to city beautification, and improving public safety and property values.
According to a report from City Financial Director Kelly Lamberson, sales tax income is down slightly from this time last year, but franchise taxes are up 22% over projections. City general fund spending is down 1.6% from what was budgeted, and down 6.6% from the previous year.
City Manager Elizabeth Gray was absent from the meeting, attending the ICSC conference in Dallas. The International Council of Shopping Centers Deal Making Conference is an "opportunity for owners, developers, retailers, brokers, lenders, municipalities, property asset managers and product and service providers to gather under one roof to exhibit, make deals, and form successful business partnerships."
Vice Mayor John Fothergill discussed his recent experience at the Oklahoma Municipal League conference in Oklahoma City. He invited the other councilors to join him in visiting city officials from Mannford to try and learn new ways to provide financial stability in the face of declining sales tax.
In other local news:
Kristen Johnson, a recently retired teacher from Sand Springs, was recently hired as the Deputy City Clerk.
Sand Springs police officer Jay Barnett was recently promoted to Captain after twenty-five years of serving the community.
Oklahoma City startup company Solaright recently donated 42 solar-powered lights to the Sand Springs Parks Department for use in Ray Brown Park and the downtown Triangle park.
