Residents of Sand Springs will soon have a new dining option with the grand opening of Tropical Smoothie Cafe on Friday, May 26th. The national fast-casual cafe concept, known for its healthy eating options including smoothies, wraps, sandwiches, and flatbreads, is set to open its doors at 502 West Morrow Road.
Read MoreThe Sand Springs City Council voted on the naming of the new commercial development on the site of the former Sheffield Steel Mill at their regular Monday meeting. The City has been prepping the 18-acre development for the past year since purchasing the land from OmniTRAX, and decided Monday to name the area Sheffield Plaza.
The commercial development was initially begun by OmniTRAX, who intended to spearhead the construction of a shopping center by the name of Sheffield Crossing. The company later decided to focus on the railroad and industrial development, but agreed to sell 18 acres of Highway 97 frontage to the City.
Because OmniTRAX owns the name Sheffield Crossing, and is still using it to refer to their operations immediately behind the development, the City had to find a new name. They were, however, given permission to use the word “Sheffield.” In a 5-1 vote, Council decided on Sheffield Plaza. Brian Jackson, Phil Nollan, Mike Burdge, Nancy Riley, and Patty Dixon were in favor, and Beau Wilson dissented. Mayor Jim Spoon was absent from the meeting.
Other names considered included “Sheffield Landing,” “Mill Landing,” “Mill Road Plaza,” “Mill Plaza,” and the “Shoppes at Sheffield Crossing.” “The Shoppes at Sheffield Crossing” was deemed inappropriate because the City is primarily hoping to attract a large box store, which wouldn’t leave much room for smaller shops.
Council also voted unanimously on “Huskey Boulevard” as the street name for the Highway 97 entrance to the development. The name is in honor of former Assistant Chief of Police Jesse Huskey, who is the only Sand Springs Police Officer to ever lose his life in the line of duty. The entrance to the development is expected to be completed by November 30th.
Other names submitted included “Steel Mill Road,” “Mill Avenue,” “Sheffield Street,” “River Road,” and “Armco Avenue.” Those names will remain on the table for additional roads that will likely be constructed within the development in the future.
Sand Springs is hoping to attract a lumber/hardware store to Sheffield Plaza, but is open to any prospective businesses. The property is in the most highly-trafficked section of Sand Springs, with visibility from both Highway 97 and Highway 412.
Council also unanimously approved an amended agreement with Axon for police video services. The agreement will see a $40,950 increase to an existing contract over a four-year period, and will allow the Police Department to store all body camera and dashboard camera footage indefinitely. While the department does flag video for indefinite storage in cases where they expect there may be need of it, the bulk of the department’s video is deleted after six months.
“I think what’s very important is to at least keep (all footage) for two years, because that’s the statute of limitations on bringing a claim in federal court against the City if someone were to feel something we’ve done is wrong,” said Police Chief Mike Carter.
Carter painted a hypothetical scenario in which a parent or guardian might not become aware of a law enforcement interaction with their child until months after the fact, such as a minor traffic stop. He also pointed to a recent DUI case that the City lost in court due to footage that was automatically deleted.
“In this case that we lost, it happened that the person didn’t show up for court, there was a warrant out for awhile. It was a simple first offense DUI…the video got deleted because it wasn’t something that rose to the level that the officer felt that he needed to retain it.”
“That being said, that wasn’t the biggest reason that we wanted to do this,” said Carter. “We want the truth on every case to be shown. We don’t want people to feel that we’re ever not being open or transparent. In my estimation, video is one the of the great things that has happened in law enforcement.”
In other news:
Vice-Mayor Patty Dixon presented a Mayoral Proclamation to the Sand Springs Chamber of Commerce, proclaiming November 30th, 2019 as Small Business Saturday in Sand Springs. Small Business Saturday is a national movement encouraging holiday shoppers to visit small, locally owned operations on the weekend of Black Friday in order to stimulate the local economy. Chamber President Kristin Cepak received the proclamation.
Council unanimously approved an interlocal agreement gifting a 1990 E-One Stratosphere Quint Fire Ladder Truck to the neighboring town of Mannford. Sand Springs recently purchased a new ladder truck and no longer has regular need for the 30-year old model. The agreement also allows for Sand Springs to request the truck in the event that extra help is needed. “I can’t thank you guys enough on behalf of the City of Mannford,” said visiting Mayor Tyler Buttram.
Council unanimously approved a resolution calling for an election in Wards 3 and 4. Those seats are currently occupied by Burdge and Riley, respectively. The filing period will be from December 2-4 and candidates can file their declaration of candidacy with the City Clerk between the hours of 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Council unanimously approved the purchase of 20 Motorola APX 900 Portable Radios for the Parks and Public Works departments, at a cost of $39,992.65.
Council unanimously approved a Utility Easement Encroachment Agreement with the Villas at Stone Creek Estates. McGuire Brothers Construction recently completed the installation of 1,447 linear feet of 8-inch SDR-35 PVC and 81 linear feet of 8-inch C-900 PVC sanitary sewer pipe at a cost of $103,429.
Council unanimously approved a Specific Use Permit to allow a Medical Marijuana Processing facility at an existing dispensary. Harvest Health Dispensary opened at 1104 West Wekiwa Road in April of 2019 and has been working toward processing in-house.
Council unanimously approved the Sand Springs Pogue Airport 5-year Capital Improvement Projects Plan, which is submitted annually to the Federal Aviation Administration and Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission.
Council unanimously approved the City Council 2020 Meeting Schedule.
Council unanimously approved a resolution affirming dilapidation public nuisance administrative hearing findings and authorizing the demolition of a vacant residential building at 213 ½ North Industrial Avenue. The City has been working with property owners since February of 2018 to have the secondary building repaired, but work has not progressed. It is currently deemed unfit for human occupancy, and due to its location, is at risk of being occupied by vagrants.
Council unanimously approved an ordinance switching the collection of hotel/motel tax from City staff to the Oklahoma Tax Commission. The City currently levies a 7% excise tax on hotel/motel gross receipts for the purpose of promoting economic development, cultural enhancement, and tourism. The OTC will assume responsibility for collecting the taxes on behalf of the city.
The Municipal Authority meeting convened following City Council. Trustees approved an amendment to an agreement for engineering services with Tetra Tech for the design and construction services for a second One Way Surge Tank in the Skiatook Raw Water Conveyance System. Sand Springs will fund 60% of the $31,500 contract, with Sapulpa funding 40%. Trustees approved a resolution authorizing the acquisition of five new easements to aid the Municipal Authority raw water line.
Trustees unanimously voted to award a $1,039,000 bid to GH2 Architects for renovations at the Canyons at Blackjack Ridge golf course clubhouse. The funding was approved by voters in a 2018 general obligation bond election. GH2 had the lowest of six bids.
Trustees also awarded a $570,402.84 bid to Heckenkemper Golf Course Design for the Canyons at Blackjack Ridge course improvements. Heckenkemper had the lowest of two bids. The funding for the project will also come from a 2018 GO Bond.
Sand Springs, OK - The City of Sand Springs announces plans for additional construction at the recently acquired 18-acre Sheffield Crossing Development District (2300 S. Hwy 97) in Sand Springs. Following the City’s award of a $1.58M bid for the project, the contractor has begun construction of a new highway intersection with traffic control signals, roadway improvements and more along Oklahoma State Highway 97, just north of the Arkansas River. The work is slated for completion later this fall.
This new entrance (at the site of the former steel mill plant entry) will come with a new southbound turning lane, leading into Sheffield Crossing. Additional work will deliver a storm water system (to help carry rainfall away from the redevelopment area) as well as a new water and sanitary sewer line.
All of this is happening as the result of the City’s desire to bring new retail development to this high-profile site in Sand Springs.
“Since the land acquisition in 2017, which was the result of an excellent public/private effort with the OmniTRAX group, the City has pushed continuously towards improvements here. Planning, budgeting and more take time to coordinate, and we are pleased to now award the work and welcome the general contractor to the site,” stated Sand Springs City Manager Elizabeth Gray.
The City’s push adds to the value of this, the largest City economic development project in fifteen years. While the site is not completely ready, a commercially viable retail pad site will also receive rough grading for use in the future.
Drivers may have noticed a large mass of reinforced concrete still stockpiled there. This material is the result of a previous phase of demolition. The City is working with OmniTRAX (who are the current owners of the material) to finalize plans to repurpose the material in a future phase of the project.
While not part of this project, the City is also planning to add a paved (internal) roadway that will connect traffic from Morrow Road (near current Wal Mart site), through the Sheffield Crossing development, onto southbound HWY 97. Those project plans have not been finalized.
“It takes the full support of our City Council members, a vision for redevelopment, a committed staff and time to pull together multi-million dollar projects such as these in our community”, stated Mayor Jim Spoon. “We’ve been actively working on this for more than two years and feel this work will truly set the stage for our next phase of success.”
The 18-acre Sheffield Crossing site is owned by the City of Sand Springs. Inquiries about potential development or pad sites may be directed to staff at grant@sandspringsok.org or at (918) 246-2504.
Sand Springs Police Chief Mike Carter discusses the department's need for updated dispatch software at a Monday night City Council meeting. (Photo: Emigh).
The Sand Springs City Council unanimously approved a series of bond propositions at Monday night’s regular monthly meeting. The five propositions will appear on the ballot November 14th at the same time as the Senate District 37 special election. Each proposition will pass or fail on its own, and will require a simple majority of 50% plus one vote.
Proposition One totals $3.505 million for the purpose of improving street conditions and constructing new roadways. “The City has always made an effort to make streets and roadways here in Sand Springs a priority,” said City Manager Elizabeth Gray. $1.445 million will be used for street overlays and repairs, while $2.06 million will go to a new roadway over the levee separating Case Community Park from the Sheffield Crossing commercial development.
Proposition Two totals $2.27 million for the purpose of purchasing new public safety equipment and software. The money will be used to replace a fifteen-year-old Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) software for the Sand Springs Police Department, as well as the Records Management System. A new ladder truck will also be purchased for the Sand Springs Fire Department. The new unit will be able to navigate tighter spaces and will have a ladder approximately 30 feet longer than the current unit.
Proposition Three totals $3.765 million for the purposes of beautifying, renovating, and generally improving public parks, lands, recreational facilities, etc. $592,250 will go to paving the parking lot at the Jerry Adair Baseball Complex inside Case Community Park. $203,000 will go to Museum building improvements, $420,500 will go to park improvements, $231,750 will go to neighborhood trail improvements, $2.06 million will go to improvements at the Canyons at Blackjack Ridge, and $257,500 will go towards improvements at the Keystone Ancient Forest. KAF improvements will include a watch tower and a new visitor’s center.
Proposition Four totals $2.625 million for the purpose of improving municipal facilities and assets. $412,000 will go to purchasing a vacuum truck, $1.9055 million will go to City-wide beautification and landscaping, and $307,500 will go to City-wide computer hardware and software upgrades. According to City officials, the current vacuum truck is utilized daily and is one of the most heavily used piece of equipment in the city.
Part of the beautification and landscaping funds will go to the City Water Treatment facility on the corner of Morrow Road and Wilson Avenue. “We want to make sure that we don’t have an eyesore that people can see anymore,” said Gray. "The water tower is coming down, it’s already funded. The water treatment facility isn’t going to be moved, it’s just too expensive. We want to make sure that our city looks as good as it can.”
Proposition Five totals $6.180 million will go to acquisition, improvement, and development of lands for future economic development projects. “Our citizens still have wants that they want to see locally, and we want to see that happen,” said Police Chief Mike Carter. “Look no further than Walmart and Webco. Those would not have happened if the City didn’t have those resources.”
Under the proposal, the city millage rate will be kept to $13 per $1,000 of property value. According to City officials, the most Sand Springs citizens have ever paid was $13.5. “Even when we go to 13 mills, our millage rate will be below Bixby, Jenks, Sapulpa, Broken Arrow, and Tulsa,” said Councilman Phil Nollan. “It was intentional,” added Mayor Mike Burdge.
In other news:
Council approved a renewal of their ten-year sales tax rebate agreement with Reasor’s, LLC. The 1% agreement caps at $2 million and is currently at $1.022 million after five years.
Council approved a $251,708 annual subsidy of EMSA services.
Council approved a contract of up to $190,000 with Dewberry Architects for expenses relating to the new Public Safety Facility.
Council approved the closure of the Southern half of Case Community Park from Sunday, September 3rd through Monday, September 4th. The park will serve as the launching point for the Great Raft Race that Monday. The park will also be closed to normal operations on September 9th and 10th due to the Riverfest Grand Opening event.
Council approved a transfer of $20,000 for a sidewalk improvement project in Concord Estates.
Council approved an ordinance rezoning the formerly-planned Arms Estates housing addition from RS-2 to RS-3. Arms Estates was originally planned in 1958 but ceased development after a single home. The property is located between East 31st Place and East 32nd Place off South 113th West Avenue.
Alan Betchan of AAB Engineering plans on developing a twelve-lot subdivision named Rivercrest. The new zoning allows the lots to be as little as 60 feet wide, as opposed to 75 feet minimum under RS-2. The lots are expected to be about 70 feet wide and 9,000 square feet. The addition will include single-story homes approximately 1800 square feet, and two-story homes approximately 2200 square feet. They are expected to range from $200,000 to $300,000.
Council voted to create an exemption from the Sand Springs Parks Fee for new buildings on lots that have been previously developed as residential.
Council voted to approve current plans for a hardened room (storm shelter) to be constructed at the Case Community Center. Preliminary designs have been drafted by Studio 45 for a 40x14 room with an occupancy load of 97, able to withstand 250 mph winds. “This is simply a place for occupants of the building, this is not a community shelter” said Parks Director Grant Gerondale. The project will go to bid this fall.
Council awarded a $715,710 contract to Circle P Welding, Inc. for the replacement of the South McKinley Hills Water Storage Tank.
Councilman Brian Jackson announced the acquisition of several surplus books from the National Library of Congress that have been gifted to Sand Springs Public Schools.
The Sand Springs Museum Association will hold an annual meeting on August 5th that is open to the public from 11:00 a.m. to noon. Connie Fisher, a museum volunteer and nationally acclaimed storyteller, will provide entertainment.
By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief
The Sand Springs City Council met in a regular monthly meeting Monday evening at City Hall and approved several City ordinances and resolutions. Only nine citizens showed up to the public event.
Mayor Mike Burdge presented a Mayoral Proclamation recognizing the Sand Springs Rotary Club for their contribution toward the Rotary Super Splash pad in Case Community Park. "It was great working with Parks, and we're thrilled with how the project turned out," said a representative from the Rotary Club.
City Council unanimously approved a specific use permit allowing the construction of the new Public Safety facility to be constructed in the Sheffield Crossing development. The facility will house the new Police Headquarters, Fire Station, Training/Conference areas, and a Municipal Jail. The jail is a simple local lockup similar to what's already located in downtown, but slightly larger. A special use permit is a standard requirement for any City jail and the proposed location received little-to-no objection from abutting property owners.
Council unanimously voted to support the 2017 OneVoice Regional Legislative Agenda. The seven-page agenda represents the City and surrounding area's priorities for the upcoming legislative session and what they hope the State and Federal legislatures will focus on. The agenda lays out thirty bullet points in three categories, including: creating an educated and healthy workforce, building infrastructure critical to business, and ensuring a prosperous economy.
SEE RELATED: OneVoice Regional Legislative Agenda
Council unanimously voted to approve an ordinance allowing the use of three-year rabies immunizations. Existing ordinance require an annual vaccine for dogs and cats within the City limits, but some veterinarians have begun use of a three-year vaccine that previously wouldn't have been sufficient from a legal standpoint. Pet owners may now make use of either form of vaccine.
Council unanimously voted to affirm two abandoned and dilapidated properties on the North side of the river as public nuisances, clearing the way for their demolition. The properties are located at 514 1/2 N. Washington Ave., and 521 N. Lincoln Ave.
Council unanimously voted to authorize the transfer of property located at 320 N. Lincoln Ave. This allows the City to sell or convey the property. The land is currently being looked at by an anonymous local technical school program that wants to use the property for a housing construction project. The property is now declared as surplus and neighbors have thirty days to protest its use in such a manner, if they so desire.
Consent Agenda, unanimously approved 7-0-0
Council approved a contract with R.L. Shears Company to conduct a sidewalk inventory and prepare a pedestrian improvements plan for the South side of the river. The City previously contracted with Shears Company for a similar project on the North side of the river, using grant funding from the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust. The South-side project will also be funded with a TSET grant of $49,880.
Council approved resolution 17-10, redirecting $60,000 from the Economic Development Capitol Fund to the Morrow Road Widening project. The section of Morrow Road from Highway 97 to Broad Street will be expanded from two to three lanes in preparation for the construction of the Sheffield Crossing development and the future City Public Safety Facility. The City has contracted with Craig & Keithline, Inc. for the project.
Council authorized an expenditure of up-to $30,369.25 to Garland's Backhoe Service, Inc. for a BPS Water Line Relocation project along Highway 51. As part of the same project, Council approved expenditure of up-to $67,960 to Tomcat Consultants, LLC. for the rental of temporary portable water tanks for six months while the Highway 51 Standpipe is replaced.
Council approved an additional $2,700 payment to Nova Painting, LLC to the existing $219,100 contract for sandblasting and painting of the Prue Road water tower.
Council approved expenses up-to $82,000 payable to Tetra Tech, Inc. for the Northside Water Distribution Disinfection System Improvement project.
In Other News:
Sand Springs citizen Gregory Fisher was recently named by Governor Mary Fallin to the Oklahoma 9-1-1 Management Authority. He is filling a newly created position and will serve as a representative of Sand Springs.
The Canyons at Blackjack Ridge restaurant is now open from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. seven days a week.
City offices will be closed November 24th through 25th due to the Thanksgiving holiday.
The Chandler Park Lights on the Hill festival begins November 25th.
The Sand Springs Festival of Lights Christmas Parade is currently scheduled for December 2nd. There is currently no word on if the Chamber of Commerce will reschedule the event should the Sandite Football team win their playoff game Friday night. Last year the Charles Page High School Football team won their semi-final playoff game and qualified for the State Championship for the first time in 49 years. The Chamber rescheduled the Parade for that Saturday so as to not conflict with the historic game. The Sandites are once again in the semi-finals Friday and the State Championship game is once again on the same night as the parade. The theme for this year's parade is "All American Christmas" due to 2016 being both a Presidential Election year and an Olympic year.
The Sand Springs Community Theater will be putting on a free play on December 4th at the Central Ninth Grade Center. "Tomato Plant Girl" recently won its category in a competition in Stillwater and will be moving on to the Regional performance in Lafayette, Louisiana in April. The December performance will be free, but will also be taking cash donations for the April trip, as well as canned food donations for the Sand Springs Community Services.
The Sand Springs Parks Department recently won an award for their renovation of the Jerry Adair Baseball Park following tornado damage in 2015. The award recognizes both the quality of the renovation as well as the timeliness.
The Food for Fines amnesty day the City recently implemented saw more than 291 participants, more than 100 of whom had warrants recalled as a result of their canned food donations. The day began at 8:00 a.m. with people lined up waiting, and the two City workers involved worked till 7:30 p.m. with no lunch and no breaks. The City doesn't yet have numbers on loss/gain of revenue, but considers the event to be a large success.
Sandite Pride News, LLC is a locally owned and operated Sand Springs, Oklahoma news source, serving the community since 2014.
What is Sandite Pride News?
Sandite Pride is the only locally owned and operated news source for Sand Springs, Oklahoma. Sandite Pride News was founded in 2014 by Scott Emigh. The site is primarily focused on Sandite sports, Sand Springs city development, events, and community news.
