City Council passes demolition order for historic grocery store building

View fullsize

The Sand Springs City Council approved an abatement and demolition order against the former Tilley's Grocery Store at Monday evening's regular monthly meeting.

The historic two-story stone building at 400 N. Cleveland Ave. was heavily damaged by fire in September of 2016 and has remained roofless and hollow ever since.

Built in the 1920s, the grocery store was owned and operated by former City Councilman Kim Lee Tilley and wife Janie for more than twenty years before being vacated. The grocery store went under various names and owners for most of its history, and at times was a laundromat and barbershop. 

According to the resolution, property owner Dale Chronister has until September 5 to begin restoring the property, otherwise the City will demolish the structure. 

In other news:

Council renewed a ten-year tax incentive agreement between the City of Sand Springs and Reasor's LLC. The City recruited the grocery store chain to Sand Springs in 2011 through a $2 million incentive, creating more than sixty jobs at the long-vacant Wal Mart facility in Prattville.

Council accepted a $65,045 bid from Tim Mills Fence Company for 6,400 feet of white vinyl fence. The company will have until October 1 to complete the installation along the city's highway corridors. 

Council approved the purchase of a Toro Reelmaster mower for the City sports fields. The $55,027.93 mower will be funded initially by the City but will be reimbursed over a three-year period by the Baseball, Soccer, and Softball organizations who lease the parks. 

Council approved a $188,702.47 contract with L&M Office Furniture to furnish the new Billie A. Hall Public Safety Center. 

Council approved a $113,387.00 contract with Southwest Solutions to purchase storage lockers, explosive cabinets, high density shelving, gun lockers, armory storage cabinets, etc. for the new Billie A. Hall Public Safety Center.

Council approved a $34,211.00 expenditure to provide a School Resource Officer for the Sand Springs Public School District. 

Following the Council meeting, the Sand Springs Municipal Authority approved $99,547.24 to purchase two new Toro Greenaster 3150-Q lawn mowers and a Toro Workman utility vehicle for the Canyons at Blackjack Ridge golf course.