City of Sand Springs recognizes flood recovery volunteers, swears in new officers

Municipal Judge R. Jay McAtee administered the Oath of Office to newly appointed Sand Springs Police Officers Tyler Kruse and David Meacham at Monday evening’s City Council meeting.

Mayor Jim Spoon read a Mayoral Proclamation honoring the various organizations that helped during and after the historic flooding earlier this summer.

American Red Cross, Samaritan’s Purse, Sand Springs Local Church Network, Sand Springs Community Services, Team Rubicon, All Hands and Hearts, Platinum Oilfield Services, Kirby Smith Equipment, Yellowhouse Machinery, All Saints Episcopal School, and The Power of Partial Improvements were among the organizations mentioned in the decree.

Council unanimously approved the use of $207,559 in emergency reserve funds for flood recovery operations, including $8,000 on volleyball court sand, $11,000 on park-wide fill-in dirt, $31,000 on new fencing at the BMX Track, $30,000 on BMX Track asphalt, $17,000 on laser grading at the softball and baseball fields, $37,000 for new playground surfacing, $5,000 for soccer field irrigation equipment, $10,000 for dumpster rental, and $9,000 for new concessions building interior.

Resolution No. 19-31 and Ordinance No. 1335 were not voted on by the Council. Rupe Helmer Group requested the items be removed from the agenda after deciding not to pursue a controversial Dollar General construction project on Highway 97 in an area that some local residents believed should be reserved for residential development.

The Ward 4 Council Seat is currently vacant following the resignation of Councilwoman Christine Hamner, who recently moved outside of the Ward 4 boundaries. Because her term expires in the Spring, the Council is looking to appoint a temporary Councilperson rather than having a special election. Interested citizens can pick up an application from the City Clerk. The deadline for consideration is Wednesday, August 21st at noon.

Other Council news…

Council unanimously approved a Fiscal Year 2020 insurance plan through the Oklahoma Municipal Assurance Group with annual premiums totaling $234,214.

Council unanimously approved a sales tax rebate agreement with Reasor’s LLC for Fiscal Year 2020. The City approved a ten-year $2 million rebate agreement in 2011 as part of an incentive package to bring the business to Sand Springs.

Council unanimously approved a $153,132 contract with Superion LLC for financial software.

Council unanimously approved a $27,804 contract with Tyler Technologies for Municipal Court software.

Council unanimously approved the purchase of three Dodge Durangos and one Dodge Charger for the Police Department at a cost of $106,467.

Council unanimously approved the purchase of two commercial Cub Cadet mowers at a cost of $25,598.

Council unanimously approved the purchase of a Jacobson Sprayer XP-175 at a cost of $50,744.

Council unanimously voted to continue an existing Transportation Agreement for Fiscal Year 2020. The City supplies a driver, 14-passenger bus, maintenance on the vehicle, and fuel in order to provide limited free transportation for senior citizens.

Council unanimously voted to renew a $57,020 contract with Metropolitan Tulsa Transit Authority for bus services in Sand Springs.

Council unanimously voted to approve a change order to a contract with Crossland Construction for the Water Treatment Plant Beautification Wall project, authorizing an increase of $30,324.23 in contract amount, and an increase of 33 days in contract times. The overall project is valued at $1,144,131.83 is funded via a voter-approved general obligation bond package.

Council unanimously voted to authorize execution of all documents transfers, and payments related to the Main Street Improvement Project. Main Street will be reconstructed from 1st Street south to its current terminus, and will be extended to intersect with Highway 97 just north of the Arkansas River bridge. A new frontage road will be constructed to connect Main Street to the Highway 412 on-ramp at Lincoln Avenue.

Council unanimously approved a reconciliatory change order to the Morrow Road Widening Project, increasing a contract with Crossland Heavy Contractors by $3,919.90 and 49 days. The project was completed last month at a final cost of $1,410,919.90.

Council unanimously voted to authorize execution of all documents, transfers, and payments related to the Highway 97 Wideneing Project.

Council unanimously voted to authorize all documents, transfers, and payments related to the Sand Springs Pogue Airport Electrical Fault and PAPI Upgrade.

Council unanimously voted to approve a Specific Use Permit for medical marijuana growing and processing at 1200 East Charles Page Boulevard in the former K-Mart building. They also voted to rezone the property from Commercial Shopping to Commercial General.

Council unanimously voted to rezone 1201 North Cleveland Avenue to Residential Manufactured Home. The property has been a mobile home park since the 1950s but wasn’t properly rezoned when zoning designations were changed to their modern format.

Council unanimously approved a resolution to accept a grant offer and authorize payment and signatures relating to a series of draining improvements at Pogue Airport.

In Municipal Authority meeting news…

Trustees unanimously approved a one-year extension to a lease agreement with the Sand Springs Chamber of Commerce for the former public works building at 109 North Garfield Avenue. The Chamber relocated their operations there a year ago and has been remodeling the building to create a small business incubator.

Trustees unanimously approved a one-year extension to an agreement with Waste Management of Oklahoma, Inc.