I-44 ramps re-open in Berryhill

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

Sand Springs residents on the South side of the river can breath easy again now that the I-44/I-244 ramps at 51st Street in the Berryhill area have reopened. The area has been a traffic nightmare for the last half year as the Oklahoma Department of Transportation performed critical bridge rehabilitation repairs.

ODOT giveth and ODOT taketh away...In perfect timing with the reopoening of the I-44 ramps, the department will be closing the 23rd Street bridge in West Tulsa for as long as eight months while crews replace three spans of the bridge and reconfigure several piers. 

Sand Springs City Council adopts series of goals for economic growth

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The Sand Springs City Council unanimously approved Resolution CC-1641 Monday evening at their bi-weekly meeting at the City Municipal Building. The resolution identifies a series of ambitious goals and objectives compiled by City Planner Brad Bates.

  1. "The City of Sand Springs will strive to promote local commerce, trade, and commodities by strengthening working relationships with the local/regional entities, existing businesses and institutions.
    1. Maintain a list of Top 10 employers and actively engage them to evaluate workforce objectives and collaboration with other local businesses.
    2. Support local businesses through shopping and dining campaigns/programs, including but not limited to the purchase with a purpose campaign.
    3. Promote shop local campaigns and events
    4. Provide links to local hospitality, dining and retail establishments on a Sand Springs website.
    5. Pursue alternative methods of internet driven traffic through search engine providers and promote usage of local businesses.
    6. Produce marketing material for distribution at trade shows and conventions.
    7. Expand the local business manager's quarterly meeting with City officials to discuss concerns, achievements and future suggestions for how the City can help improve local business success.
    8. Collaborate with schools and non-profit organizations on workforce development to create a sustainable workforce in Sand Springs
    9. Create a one page handout on "What shopping local means to you!" Have facts on how much taxable sales to fund one police officer. So if it's $40,000 average for a police officer that requires $2,000,000 in taxable sales of .02 sales tax that goes to the general fund.
  2. Aggressively pursue new local, regional, or national restaurant and retail businesses. 
    1. Create an inventory of City and privately owned properties that will be made available to interested parties.
    2. Actively work to broker/initiate development deals and transactions.
    3. Have strong code enforcement of existing properties by strengthening property management codes and regulations.
    4. Attend regional and national trade shows, expos, and conventions promoting the City of Sand Springs.
    5. Update the City's incentives policy to direct the long-term process of economic development.
    6. Explore and employ non-traditional incentive methods where appropriate, with specific attention to fostering small businesses and entrepreneurship. 
    7. Expand and grow the City's population through development of new single-family, multi-family, and elderly housing, in addition to actively encouraging annexation of property.
    8. Continue to monitor and evaluate the City's permit fees and development process to stay competitive with other Tulsa Metro communities.
    9. Have a team ready of citizen ambassadors to call upon to meet with prospects.
  3. Identify some projects that will beautify Sand Springs and assist with marketing and economic development and complete those projects.
    1. Develop a highway corridor improvement plan or concept for implementation as part of the Vision 2025 approved project and funding.
    2. Create a timeline for corridor improvements and being implementation accordingly.
    3. Identify beautification projects that serve a multipurpose through enhancing properties or businesses that simultaneously improve the public image.
    4. Engage local civic organizations, schools, and neighborhood associations to organize cleanup efforts or beautification projects.
    5. Continue renovation and construction projects for city owed properties with functionality and aesthetics being considered in design.
    6. Review city ordinances on landscape requirements for development with possible modifications of requirements strengthening and encouraging property beautification.
    7. Have work days more often and announced early enough that people can plan ahead.
  4. Evaluate and consider the acquisition of real estate for future development purposes.
    1. Determine the need and identify areas for property acquisition to help drive development transactions.
    2. Formalize a process for which property can be bought by the City in a timely and efficient manner.
    3. Develop a criteria for real estate purchasing as a form of a development incentive.
    4. Initiate land use workshops with staff to engage primary land owners in goal accomplishment.
  5. Encourage and engage Subdivision and Multi-Family Developers/Developments.
    1. Work with developers to identify properties that are available for development.
    2. Continue to monitor and evaluate the City's permit fees and development process to stay competitive with other Tulsa Metro cities.
    3. Expedite processes when possible to speed up the overall development time.
    4. Evaluate infrastructure development as an incentive when deemed appropriate and beneficial.
    5. Attend Tulsa Home Builders Association meetings and gatherings to promote Sand Springs as a community.
    6. Contact and meet with Multi-Family Developers to inform them about Sand Springs and promote the need for additional housing options within the community.
    7. Make incentive policy options available for subdivision and multi-family developments.
  6. Develop an Economic Development website resource hub and strive to educate and advance the objective of all involved with the City to be involved in assisting with economic development as possible. 
    1. Set a public launch date of the seesandsprings.com website and begin to promote the site through social media platforms. 
    2. Create handout materials (cards, flyers, etc) that can be distributed to businesses, developers, brokers, and citizens promoting seesandsprings.com
    3. Create and maintain an inventory of available city owned properties for development
    4. Provide links to active real estate professionals/organizations listings in the area.
    5. Provide Demographic and Market Profile information for easy review and utilization, updated annually. 
    6. Provide Economic Development Incentive information, policies, and guidelines once developed and implemented.
    7. Provide links to zoning/building regulations, building permit forms and guidelines, engineering design criteria, and the Sand Springs Comprehensive Plan.
    8. Provide digital links to zoning and comprehensive plan land use maps.
    9. Provide links to State of Oklahoma Business Resources (ie: Small Business Incentive, Department of Commerce, etc)
  7. Sand Springs will have a strong independent local economy that compliments the surrounding region but is not dependent on it.
    1. Collaborate with local and regional partners regarding economic development opportunities.
    2. Encourage the development of offices, professional services, and industry in appropriate locations within the City. 
    3. Continue to support and promote the downtown commercial area.
    4. Develop a new economic development grant program for downtown development.
    5. Promote housing rehabilitation, revitalization and infrastructure improvements within neighborhoods in need.
    6. Increase retail/shopping and dining availability within Sand Springs.
    7. We should encourage and find sights that may be appealing to both developers and citizens."

Patty Dixon sworn into Sand Springs City Council and other Council news

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City Municipal Judge Mike King swears in Councilwoman Patty Dixon for a three-year term.

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

Councilwoman Patty Dixon was sworn into office at the Sand Springs City Council meeting Monday night, taking over the Ward 2 seat from Dean Nichols after running unopposed. Nichols served three terms after joining the Council in 2007 and asked Dixon to file for his seat after deciding not to pursue a fourth term last December.

Dixon had previously served on the Council for two terms from 1990-1996 and encouraged Mayor Mike Burdge to run for her seat when she stepped down twenty years ago. Dixon has an extensive resume including time served with the Sand Springs Parks Advisory Board, Museum Association, HEAL committee, Sertoma Club, Oklahoma Municipal League, and First Christian Church, and is a retired 26-year employee of the Tulsa County Parks Department. She has also served as the Executive Director for the Oklahoma Recreation and Parks Society. Along with her husband, Tim, Patty owns Dixon Auto Glass in Sand Springs.

In other news:

  • Councilman Phil Nollan was nominated and unanimously approved as the Council representative to the Parks Advisory Board and Daniel Comer was nominated by Councilwoman Dixon to continue his term and unanimously approved.
  • Precision Lawn was unanimously approved to take over citywide mowing services beginning in July. 
  • The Council unanimously approved Resolution CC-1641 adopting "a series of goals and objectives related to economic development for the City."
  • On recommendation from the Parks Advisory Board, the Council unanimously approved an adjustment to the existing park shelter rental rate from $25/half day to $40 per two-hour block reservation for special events. Citizens are not required to pay a reservation fee to utilize the shelters, but it does guarantee the spot on days with high demand.

27th Annual Sand Springs Herbal Affair is this Saturday, April 16th

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Photo by: Morgan Miller

Sand Springs, OK- The City of Sand Springs hopes you will join us on Saturday, April 16th from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the 27th annual event. More than 100 vendors will be on site selling herbs, perennials, natives and heirloom plants, along with herbal products, gardening supplies, outdoor décor and so much more.

“Each year this event grows,” says Kasey St. John, Marketing Manager for the City of Sand Springs. “What started as a downtown street sale now has 105 vendors offering a variety of local and unique products.”

This year’s festival features many of the same vendors that keep visitors coming back but also includes several additional areas:

Kid Zone

Sponsored by The Church That Matters, the Kid’s Zone features interactive and educational activities that are fun for the whole family plus, a special entertainment stage with local performances by Miss Tirita’s dance students. All free of charge!

Basil Street Theater

8:30-9:30 a.m. Casey and Minna
9:30-10:30 a.m. CBMS Jazz Band
10:30- Noon. Spring Street
Noon-12:30 p.m. Hometown Hero Presentation
12:30-2:00 p.m. Janet Rutland Trio
2:00-3:00 p.m. Seven Feathers
3:00-4:00 p.m. Turtle Creek Cloggers

Wine Garden

Have a taste and sit a spell while in the Oklahoma Wine Garden located in the City Garden Park at Broadway and McKinley.

Food Trucks

Are you a foodie that enjoys the best of the Tulsa region’s food truck scene? Look no further than Herbal Affair. The food truck court features some of the area’s most popular food trucks with delights ranging from Mediterranean, Vietnamese fusion, desserts to traditional local fare.

Plant Sitters

Manned by local Catholic parishioners at St. Patrick’s Church, the Plant Sitters Booth will watch over your purchases free of charge while you explore the festival.

Free Shuttle Service

Park and ride the free shuttle service from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Charles Page High School located at Park and Adams Road, just two blocks north of the Adams Road exit from State Highway 412/64/51.

Maps and T-Shirts

Maps of the festival will be available at the welcome sings at festival entrances, as well as the Information Tent located at City Hall (corner of Broadway and McKinley.) T-shirts will be available at the Information Tent for $15.

Visit the Herbal Affair Web site for more information on this festival, www.herbalaffairandfestival.com. 

Tulsa County holds special election and Vision Tulsa vote on Tuesday

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

Tulsa County residents are headed to the polls Tuesday morning.

On the ballot is a special election for the unexpired term of former Tulsa County Sheriff Stanley Glanz who was indicted in September on charges of refusal to perform official duty in regards to an officer-involved shooting. Glanz is accused of failing to release an internal investigative report to media, as well as another willful violation of law regarding taking a monthly stipend for travel within the county, despite using a county vehicle and county-supplied fuel.

Running for the unexpired term are Democrat Rex Berry, a 26-year veteran of the City of Tulsa Police Department, and Republican Vic Regalado, a 10-year veteran of the Tulsa SWAT team and lead homicide detective in 81 homicides. Berry was the lone Democrat to file for the candidacy, while Regalado won a landslide primary election last month, winning 40% of the vote in a crowded nine-candidate election. Whoever wins this election will only get seven months in office before the full-term election in November. 

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Also on the ballot is a County Question regarding Vision Tulsa, a 0.5% tax package. The tax would not be an increase on current rates, but rather, an extension of the Vision 2025 initiative that passed in 2003. Vision 2025 led to more than $650 million in economic development that has been used in projects in all 10 cities of Tulsa County. The flagship of the initiative is the BOK Center which has arguably been the crucial centerpiece in an ongoing Tulsa culture development that supporters are calling a "Tulsa Renaissance."

Specific to Sand Springs is the Keystone Corridor development plan that allowed the City of Sand Springs to purchase the old Early Childhood Education Center in 2007. The school district used these new funds to build a new state-of-the-art facility at 81st West Avenue and Park Road. The previous building was a century old and was formerly the segregation-era Booker T Washington high school for black Sandites. The old building was demolished as part of the clearing of the 30-acre "River West Development" site, which now includes an IHOP, Starbucks, and Holiday Inn Express.

The new initiative has many ambitious goals, including hiring more police officers and firefighters, street maintenance, a Gilcrease Museum renovation, improvements to the Tulsa Zoo, housing incentives for teachers at Tulsa Public Schools, Union, and Jenks, Route 66 beautification, and renovations for the Tulsa Performing Arts Center.

Sand Springs Splash Pads to open May 1st; several new parks improvements

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STAFF REPORTS

The citizens of Sand Springs have been eagerly awaiting the completion of the new splash pads in River City Parks and Pratt Civitan Park since construction began about a year ago, and it's finally time for the new features to open in one month. In addition to the splash pads themselves, the city also used the installation as an opportunity for renovation, beautifying and improving the areas around them. New handicapped parking has been added in River City, accompanied by a new pedestrian bridge to cross the creek. The splash pads will be open from May through September from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm.

Pratt Civitan

River City

Gerdau Ameristeel considers closing Sand Springs steel mill

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Gerdau Ameristeel Corp. (NYSE: GNA) said it is suspending production at its Sayreville, New Jersey steel mill and closing its rolling mill in neighboring Perth Amboy, New Jersey due to lower demand for its products resulting from the downturn in the economy.

The company said it expects the moves to occur gradually over the next several months. The company indicated that it would restart operations at the Sayreville facility “when business conditions warrant.”

Gerdau Ameristeel said it is also entering into discussions with the United Steel Workers regarding the potential closure of the company’s steel mill located in Sand Springs, Oklahoma.

The company said that service to its customers will be uninterrupted and will be provided by production from Gerdau Ameristeel’s network of steel mills in the United States and Canada. The Sayreville facility will continue to carry a range of products in inventory available for shipment or customer pickup until production resumes.

In connection with the actions, (and depending on the outcome of the Sand Springs discussions), the company expects to incur an after tax charge from around $80 million to $140 million related to these closures.

Of these amounts, between around $15 million to $30 million are expected to be cash costs for severance and facility closure expenses. Depending on the outcome of the Sand Springs discussions, the company expects to realize annualized pre-tax cash savings of around $35 million to $70 million as a result of the moves.

Gerdau Ameristeel said it anticipates some of these charges to be included in the three month period ended June 30, and some to be included in the three month period ended September 30.

Tampa, Florida-based Gerdau Ameristeel is a mini-mill steel producer in North America with annual manufacturing capacity of around 12 million tons of mill finished steel products.