May 24, 2017

City Council approves improvements to town infrastructure, discusses latest accomplishments

May 24, 2017/ Scott Emigh

The Sand Springs City Council met in a regular meeting Monday evening at the City Municipal Building. Outgoing Board of Adjustment Chairman Randy Beesley was presented with a Mayoral Proclamation, Marketing Manager Kasey St. John provided a presentation regarding the Sand Springs Marketing department, and numerous appointments were made to City Boards.

St. John expressed pleasure with the success of the City's goals for the past year. The City recently held the Second Annual Ancient 5K at Keystone Ancient Forest, participated in the Tulsa Home and Garden Show, and hosted the 28th Annual Herbal Affair and Festival with more than 20,000 attendees. A self-guided "Historic Tour" has been created on the City of Sand Springs website, and physical signage will be placed throughout the city by the end of the fiscal year.

St. John set a goal to have a facebook following equal to 10% of the city's population by the end of the year--a feat which they easily surpassed with more than 3,500 followers at press time. A Sandite Pride News story shared on the City's facebook page is currently their most viewed post of all time. City officials have attended 18 major events this year to promote Sand Springs. The City is also working to redesign and relaunch the official website. A promotion website, SeeSandSprings.com, was launched this past year to help attract businesses and developers.

City Council unanimously approved $100,000 for use in installing a "Public Safety Hardened Room" in the Case Community Center. The funding for the project is part of a public safety sales tax that went into effect in January.

Council unanimously approved $25,000 for use in rehabilitating the Shell Lake Dam, which is currently approaching the century mark in age.

Council unanimously approved $31,085.68 to continue partnering with the Metropolitan Environment Trust (M.e.t.) for the 2017-2018 fiscal year. The City has utilized M.e.t. services for more than thirty years. M.e.t. accepts fluorescent and CFL light bulbs, oil-based paints and paint thinner, flammable liquids, lawn chemicals, automotive fluids, cooking oil/grease, aerosols, household and car batteries, household cleaners, and pool chemicals at no additional charge to City residents.

Council unanimously approved a request from CHC Kirkwood LIHTC LP for a Resolution of Support for a tax credit to rehabilitate a 76-unit housing development located at 400 E. 6th Street. Kirkwood Senior Apartments are a Multifamily complex for elderly and handicapped residents, located next to Charles Page High School. The tax credit, if approved, will come from State funds and will not affect City finances directly. The complex hopes to invest $3 million in property and housing improvements.

Council unanimously approved the use of $93,767.31 in Vision funding to purchase and install ten LED colored lights beneath the USHWY 412 overpass to "bridge" the downtown community with the new River West development.

Board Appointments:

Mike Burdge, Brian Jackson, and Patty Dixon were appointed to the Council Appointment Committee for a one-year term.
Mike Burdge, Jim Spoon, and Patty Dixon were appointed to the Council Finance and Development Committee for a one-year term.
Jim Spoon and Christine Hamner were appointed to the Council Legislative Committee for a one-year term.
Beau Wilson, Phil Nollan, and Christine Hamner were appointed to the Council Public Works Advisory Committee.
Mike Burdge was appointed to the INCOG Board of Directors for a one-year term with Elizabeth Gray as an alternate.
Mike Burdge was appointed to the INCOG General Assembly for a one-year term with Elizabeth Gray as an alternate.
Mike Burdge was appointed to the INCOG Legislative Consortium for a one-year term with Elizabeth Gray as an alternate.
Brian Jackson was appointed to the INCOG Tulsa Metropolitan Area Transportation Policy Committee for a one-year term with Derek Hamil (sp?) as an alternate.
Cathy Burdge and Richard "Rick" Barnett were appointed to the Sand Springs Parks Advisory Board for a three-year term.

In other news:

Sand Springs Fire Department Driver Ray Hall recently won the 2017 Mountain Bike National Championship. He competed in a 50-mile long course with major elevation changes and rough terrain.
The City of Sand Springs received their 27th consecutive Government Finance Officers' Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting.
According to Finance Director Kelly Lamberson, the City is "doing well with our spending, remaining below projections by 16.1 percent."
Sand Springs Police Sargent Jason McGinnis was named the Rotary Officer of the Year. McGinnis is a U.S. Navy vet, who was in charge of 50 caliber machine guns. According to Police Chief Mike Carter, he is a driving force behind Special Olympics funding and the Sand Springs leg of the torch run.
Rumble strips were recently installed on 41st Street between Prattville and Berryhill at a cost of $18,000.
Captain Jeremy Wade was named the Rotary Firefighter of the Year. According to Fire Chief Mike Wood, "(Wade) is a phenomenal employee, always goes above and beyond." He has been with the SSFD for nearly sixteen years.
The Fire Department recently hired Sand Springs local Zachary Mosley. "(Mosley) is going to be a great rookie for us. He hit the ground running this morning and we're glad to have him," said Wood.
Sand Springs recently received an improved Insurance Service Office Class Two rating that places the department in the top 1% of Oklahoma communities and in the top 2.8% in the nation.

May 22, 2017

Ashton's Boutique launches new website for online shopping in Sand Springs

May 22, 2017/ Scott Emigh

Ashton's Boutique has been open for business for three years, and the quaint Prattville shop owns the market on that side of town as the only store in Sand Springs carrying certain high-end products.

From Vera Bradley and Rustic Cuff to Dear John Denim, Z-Supply, and Bridgewater Candles--Ashton's Boutique offers a number of zip code-protected market favorites that can only be found at the local family-owned business.

Ashton's is located at 3401 S. 113th W. Ave across from Domino's Pizza, next door to Serendipity Salon and Spa. It is perfectly located for a girls' day out as customers can relax at the spa then satisfy any shopping needs right next door.

However, they're also taking into account the number of locals who prefer to dodge the register and build their wardrobe online. Ashton's partnered with Nozak Consulting to build out a user-friendly online store.

Mother-daughter duo Ashton and Teresa started the business so that Ashton would have more time to spend with her kids, but that doesn't mean they give any less than 100% to providing the best Sand Springs shopping experience possible. The family-friendly business is the perfect place to find wedding gifts, home decor, baby shower gifts, and more.

Ashton and Teresa visit marketing sessions in Dallas several times a year to make sure they're up to date on all the newest fashions and trends, as well as to make sure they're bringing home the best products at the lowest prices.

Not only do they make sure they're bringing America's best to Sand Springs, but they're also supporting fellow local businesses in the process. The Vintage Pearl and Rustic Cuff jewelry are handcrafted right here in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Not local, but still Made in America are Bridgewater candles. The South Carolina-based company donates enough money to Rice Bowls to feed a child three meals a day. Rice Bowls, a South Caroline nonprofit, supports 56 orphanages in 8 different countries.

Summer Ellis jewelry is another quality Made in America product carried at Ashton's. Summer Ellis produces dainty but eloquent designs in sterling silver and 14k gold with all real stones. You can often see Summer Ellis worn by Johanna Kerns of HGTV's Fixer Upper.

Looking for quality footwear? Glitterflops are hand-embellished in Whitesboro, Texas with Swarovski Elements and are made from the finest leathers and Memory Foam rubber. All shoes come with a six-month warranty, so if you lose any stones or have a blowout, you can send your shoes to Texas and get them back as good as new!

These are just a few of the great American products available at one of Sand Springs's finest boutiques! All of Ashton's inventory is viewable online and many products can be ordered online as well.

Next time you're in the Sand Springs area, you have to visit this Grade-A establishment!

May 10, 2017

Senate committee approves ‘Oklahoma Energy Jobs Act of 2017’

May 10, 2017/ Scott Emigh

OKLAHOMA CITY – An Oklahoma Senate committee on Tuesday gave approval to a major jobs bill from Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Schulz that is anticipated to spur a significant increase in oil and gas drilling in the state of Oklahoma, creating thousands of new energy jobs and boosting state and local revenues.

“The best way to generate more revenue from oil and gas production is to get more rigs drilling in Oklahoma. The Energy Jobs Act will unlock billions in oil and gas investment in Oklahoma, creating jobs and generating new revenue for the state,” said Schulz, R-Altus.

Senate Bill 867, also known as the Oklahoma Energy Jobs Act of 2017, allows multiunit, or long-lateral, drilling in all rock formations, not just shale. Currently, Oklahoma is the only state that restricts long-lateral drilling based on the type of rock formation. The bill also provides safeguards for property owners, mineral owners, and all operators.

By industry estimates, in its first year SB 867 will generate approximately $490 million in new royalty payments, more than $229 million in new state and local revenues (combined gross production tax, sales tax, and income tax generated from increased drilling activity), and create nearly 6,000 new jobs in the oil and gas sector. Additionally, the measure is expected to unlock nearly $6 billion in investment from major oil and gas companies.

“This bill levels the playing field with other states, costs the state nothing, and makes Oklahoma a more attractive place for investment. This is an issue we’ve worked on for years in the Senate, and I’m glad we finally have an agreement among stakeholders. This is one of the most important and impactful economic development ideas to be considered by the Legislature in years,” Schulz said. “I appreciate my Senate colleagues advancing the measure and look forward to this bill ultimately becoming law.”

Sen. Bryce Marlatt, chairman of the Senate Energy Committee, hailed the passage of SB 867 as a win for the state, industry, and land owners.

“We’ll see more rigs drilling in Oklahoma if this bill becomes law. That in turn means more jobs and more revenue for the state of Oklahoma. Bottom line: SB 867 is a win for the industry, a win for mineral owners, and it’s a win for the state of Oklahoma,” Marlatt, R-Woodward said.

This press release was submitted by the Oklahoma State Senate media department.

Any opinions expressed or implied are those of the author and do not reflect an editorial endorsement by Sandite Pride News.

Sandite Pride News encourages community submissions regardless of platform or position, to effect a constructive dialogue about any issues affecting our community.

May 05, 2017

West Side Alliance Soccer Club forms new league, Oklahoma Premiere Club

May 05, 2017/ Scott Emigh

The following press release was jointly issued by West Side Alliance Soccer Club and the newly formed Oklahoma Premiere Club. The West Side Alliance is based in Sand Springs and operates out of the River City Parks Inez Kirk Soccer Complex in Sand Springs and the Westbank Soccer Complex in West Tulsa. It is the competitive branch of the Sand Springs Soccer Club.

US Club Soccer has announced it will sanction a statewide u11-u19 competitive league, including postseason traditional state tournament play in the state of Oklahoma, beginning in the Fall 2017 season. This landmark initiative for Oklahoma soccer will leverage US Club Soccer’s programming on behalf of member clubs in the State of Oklahoma.

"We're excited to welcome Oklahoma Premiere Clubs to US Club Soccer," said John Borozzi, US Club Soccer Vice President. "These club's commitment to their players, as well as growth opportunities for coaches and referees, aligns with US Club Soccer's mission and Player's First Philosophy."

Five of Oklahoma’s top seven clubs by membership size, facilities, and state and regional level accolades are making a full commitment to participation in this innovative new platform. Northeast Oklahoma FC (NEOFC), Oklahoma Celtic, South Lakes Cosmos, TSC Hurricane, and West Side Alliance S.C. (WSA), have each committed to Oklahoma Premier Clubs as the primary leaguing platform for their competitive membership moving forward. These five clubs represent a major portion of the competitive soccer membership population in Oklahoma soccer today, and will bring several decades of consistent, experienced, and innovative leadership to the forefront in leading this new endeavor.

OPC will have a player-centric focus while collaborating and investing in coach and referee development. Each OPC member will work together to raise standards that improve the player experience so that each player has the opportunity to reach their full potential and enjoy the game more.

“TSC Hurricane is extremely excited to be part of the unification of these leading clubs in raising the standards for youth soccer in Oklahoma. OPC is a game changer. Embracing Diversity is one of OPC’s core values and one of the strengths of our team is that each of our clubs bring diverse viewpoints and ideas while also sharing a common philosophy, mission and resources. We fully understand that as a leading club in Oklahoma, we have a responsibility to our players, coaches and members to provide the most effective and quality competitive platform possible. The quality of the programming has a direct impact on the development and experience of all our players, coaches, partners and members. We are excited to be working side-by-side with all of the OPC clubs to lead the direction of player development, exposure and player path opportunities across Oklahoma. By working together as a team, the potential for what the OPC can achieve is limitless," says TSC Hurricane Executive Director Jim Tindell.

The Oklahoma Premier Clubs will join the US Club Soccer circuit of recognized and qualified statewide leagues by USCS. OPC has been deemed immediately eligible for the US Club National Cup Playoffs. The State Cup Champion from OPC competition will qualify for the US Club National Cup Championships.

In addition Oklahoma Premier Clubs will include a Regional League platform through US Club’s National Premier League (NPL). The Red River Premier League will launch in the Fall of 2017, and will host top teams from each club in OPC, and will be joined by a conference of clubs from North Texas, Kansas and Arkansas, providing reasonable, economical and logical travel for a regional league platform.

“Oklahoma Celtic is excited about being a part of the Oklahoma Premier Clubs. We believe the clubs already involved in this league share a similar vision for player development and know this will be a fantastic opportunity to create the best environment for our players and teams to grow. We feel US Club is in the forefront of player development and joining them will give our club great benefit through its multiple player and coach identification and development programs," says Oklahoma Celtic Director Don Rother.

NEOFC Executive Director, Alex Miranda reports, “NEOFC is proud to usher in this historic change for soccer in Oklahoma. Our club believes in the OPC’s collaborative approach as the guiding principle for developing a league platform, which provides the best player experience at all developmental levels. Through a vast range of programs, we believe OPC offers the most innovative developmental opportunities for players, coaches, and game officials alike. OPC’s focus and determination in establishing standards of excellence for its member clubs, directly aligns with our club’s vision of offering the best overall experience for families, players, and coaches. We look forward to working with all OPC clubs in this exceptional player-centric environment."

OPC clubs are joining forces to leverage the power of their combined resources to transform the landscape for all players in Oklahoma centered on player, coach and referee development while creating multiple player pathway opportunities whether it be from club-to-college, club-to-National Team or club-to-professional. OPC programming will also bring the clubs more closely in alignment with US Soccer Development Academy and ECNL standards and recommendations.

OPC member benefits will include access to US Club Soccer’s ID2/PDP programming, an Olympic Development Program that helps identify players for national pool selection. This innovative concept will expose every player of the OPC to weekly evaluation opportunities through league play, and in-house recommendation avenues, bringing a new level of ongoing exposure to the player.

OPC member benefits will extend to coach symposiums for coach education, the development of a coach network, training standards, sharing best practices, referee development, US Club Soccer’s Player’s First initiatives for safety and health of players, and a streamlined league management process provided by the experts at Prime Time Sports. Prime Time Sports has over 80 years of event management experience including select soccer leagues in the Dallas Ft. Worth Metroplex. Their professional league management will reduce the workload on the clubs, allowing clubs to focus on their intended “player-centric” models. Additionally the league website services will be provided by Blue Star Sports the PTS parent company. Blue Star Sports is a leading provider of sports management software and payment solutions.

“The leadership from the OPC clubs have a great vision for soccer development in the region and we at Prime Time Sports and Blue Star Sports are pleased to partner with their league to build an even stronger platform,” reports Bandon Hollmann, COO at Prime Time Sports a Blue Star Sports company.

OPC league scheduling will include proper periodization that is influenced by club technical directors. This means that the league schedule will account for rest and recovery periods, as well as proper game to training session ratios for a consistent and annualized calendar for the player as well as the families who support the player. Through their home club recreational bases, OPC member clubs will also have control of nearly every major club-based complex in the state while also having access to independent complexes. Multi-million dollar investments are also currently underway or planned at the majority of the OPC complexes.

“South Lakes Soccer Club is excited about the new Oklahoma Premier Clubs announcement with US Club Soccer. Having soccer minded individuals in decision making roles is a "game changer". The OPC leadership will have more knowledge and experience than any other League in Oklahoma's soccer history. The collaboration of clubs and the caliber will be second to none. With having like minded soccer Directors all working together to benefit the players, Oklahoma cannot lose. It has been great working with this group on the creation and launch of the OPC. SLSC looks forward to an exciting future," says South Lakes Director of Coaching Brandon Lawless.

With the participation of five of Oklahoma’s most historic, reputable, and accomplished soccer clubs, the OPC will become the medium for tremendous player development opportunity, and enhanced overall player experience opportunities. OPC will collectively have the largest and most credentialed coaching staff network in the state. This innovative new platform is not only about the expanded opportunities it brings to elite players, but it is intended for ALL players no matter what experience level, age or background. The combination of size, resources, network, experience and diversity of ideas that each club brings is powerful and will be unmatched in the state of Oklahoma.

“WSA is not only excited, but enthused to be a part of this endeavor on behalf of Oklahoma soccer. We see the opportunity presented by OPC as providing the latitude necessary to properly support and nurture our teams, and ultimately serve our players. The early participating clubs in OPC represent for us a formidable leadership base that we are encouraged to be a part of. We fully understand our responsibility to our players and families and our responsibility as a member of the Oklahoma soccer community, and it is for this reason we are eager to facilitate the OPC vision on behalf of Oklahoma soccer, “ says WSA Executive Director Roger Bush.

OPC membership is open through an application process to interested clubs that meet the criteria established by OPC. OPC forecasted team expenses reflect a small negative delta (less expensive than previous team fees have been). Registration, tryout, team formation, and league start dates will go relatively unchanged.

May 05, 2017

Sand Springs Police Department invites community discussion of City Policing Plan May 18th at CPHS

May 05, 2017/ Scott Emigh

Sand Springs Police Chief Mike Carter provided a presentation regarding the Sand Springs Policing Plan at last week's Sand Springs City Council Meeting and discussed alterations made since their last presentation. He also gave updates on ongoing actions taken by the department.

The Department plans on listing all officers, employees, council members, and City administrators online for better transparency. They removed a section of the plan calling for increased penalties. They removed a plan to build jail space for long term holding of individuals with warrants.

The Department has increased the amount of written and verbal warnings in 2017, with a third of all citations issued being warnings without fines. External vests are becoming more common. They are collaborating with businesses along Wekiwa Road to combat aggressive panhandlers.

According to Carter, the department has seen a "dramatic cut down on meth labs in the last couple of years. The department also has an officer on the Hispanic Affairs Commission who is fluent in Spanish and able to translate.

Carter also touched on current issues in the national climate such as immigration status. "If there is a victim of a crime, our first job is to protect and serve, regardless of immigration status. But we are not a sanctuary city." Carter wants anyone in Sand Springs to feel safe calling the SSPD without fear of being checked for credentials. However, he also said that Sand Springs cooperates with State and Federal investigations into individuals' immigration status and will make arrests on behalf of other agencies.

The police department has also made efforts to involve the community in review processes. Citizens have been involved on review boards for Use of Force investigations and complaints. "Nothing we do should be secret," said Carter. "We work for the community."

Sand Springs partners with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations when looking into Use of Deadly Force and In-Custody deaths.

The Sand Springs Police Department maintains an active social media presence through their official Facebook page. They will be holding a "Pop with a Cop" day at the Charles Page High School cafeteria on May 18th where citizens can meet officers, ask questions, and fellowship over a cold can of cola. The event will begin at 7:00 p.m.

The Department recently partnered with House District 66 Representative Jadine Nollan on House Bill 2159, which would authorize the Oklahoma Tax Commission to cancel the current registration on a defendant's motor vehicle should they fail to appear in court or enter a plea for unpaid fines, rather than having an arrest warrant issued. The bill passed the House by a bipartisan vote of 80-16, but died in the Senate General Government committee.

The Department recently celebrated a successful "Food for Fines" program that allowed people to pay outstanding fines and warrants without fear of arrest. More than 100 people had warrants recalled because of the event, which brought in 6,118 pounds of canned food for Sand Springs Community Services.

Officers are in their second year of physical fitness testing with the University of Tulsa.

The Department is also working on officer retention efforts. According to Carter, the department is four positions down from last year. The Chief cited competitive wages and a national anti-cop climate as reasons for difficulty in recruiting and retaining experienced officers.

In Other News:

Council unanimously passed the Consent Agenda, consisting of "routine" money transfers and resolutions considered to be standard in nature. Councilman Jim Spoon was absent from the meeting.
Council unanimously passed Resolution No. 17-36, adopting the Fiscal Year 2018 Master Fee Schedule. Councilor Phil Nollan commented, "Our fees are 50% higher than our competitor cities. I would like for us to take a look at that again in the future. Sand Springs has had an issue growing in the last few decades compared to other cities. A lot of things have changed to help us grow, but I feel like there's more areas we can continue to improve."
Council unanimously approved Resolution No. 17-37, adopting the FY2018 Budget. Finance Director Kelly Lamberson discussed an ongoing negative trend in Sales Tax Revenue.
Council sent back to committee a previously-approved plan to place a large City Logo on the McKinley West Tank. Alan Ringle, of Ringle Development, and Kenneth Benton, a resident in the area, protested the plan. According to research done by Ringle and Councilman Nollan, the previously approved logo was illegally sized for Tulsa County, who has jurisdiction over the property.
Council approved Ordinance 1299 by a 5-1 vote with Nollan voicing dissent. The ordinance requires backwater valves in all sanitary sewer building drains. "I openly do not support this," said Nollan. "I hate to make a new requirement that will cost homeowners or new developers extra money." Ringle also spoke in opposition to the ordinance.
Council unanimously approved Ordinance 1300, effectively rezoning 721 N. Garfield Ave. from Residential Single-Family to Residential Duplex.
Councilman Brian Jackson gave a report on a "Sandite Power Hour" volunteer session where twenty individuals painted a hallway at Angus Valley Elementary.

May 04, 2017

ODOT looking at suspending construction work, commission defers award on new highway contracts due to funding concerns

May 04, 2017/ Scott Emigh

At its Monday, May 1 meeting, the Oklahoma Transportation Commission took unprecedented action on new construction projects due to the ongoing state budget crisis. The Oklahoma Department of Transportation also updated commissioners on proposals being considered by the legislature that would affect transportation funding and the impacts to construction already underway.

Due to the uncertainty of state funding to pay current obligations, ODOT Executive Director Mike Patterson reported to commissioners that the department had asked several construction contractors not to start work on 12 projects that were awarded in previous months. Additionally, Patterson has asked the eight field division engineers to prepare a plan of how to safely and responsibly suspend work on more than 80 road and bridge projects already under construction in the event that the deteriorating state funding trends continue.

“Suspending current highway construction due to a proposed reduction in state funding is not something ODOT has ever been faced with, but we are preparing for it now,” Patterson said. “Without a reliable stream of revenue coming in, it wouldn’t be fiscally responsible to keep incurring construction expenses that we have an obligation to pay.”

A fuel tax increase is a revenue replacement proposal under consideration by the legislature that would partially offset the proposed cuts.

Patterson also noted that issuing new bonds to offset budget cuts is not a fiscally viable option, as in previous years. The agency has more than $485 million in outstanding bond debt, which costs about $57 million annually in debt service. Since 2010, the legislature has authorized several ODOT bond issues to help offset funding diverted from transportation. Now, the agency's cash balance has been depleted to the point that ODOT is no longer able to cover the required payments up front necessary to receive bond proceeds.

Citing funding concerns, the commission voted to defer award of new highway construction contracts for this month, approving contracts financed with only federal and county funds. Highway projects deferred include bridge work on Shields Blvd. over I-35 in Moore and I-35 over US-77 near Davis as well as pavement rehabilitation on SH-11 in Grant County and SH-45 and SH-132 in Garfield County.

Commissioners did award 11 contracts totaling $18 million to improve county roads and bridges in nine counties. Contracts were awarded for projects in Beaver, Caddo, Choctaw, Coal, Garfield, Johnston, Kingfisher, Nowata and Pawnee counties. A list of all awarded contracts may be found by visiting www.odot.org/contracts, selecting the April 2017 letting and clicking Go and then Award.

The eight-member panel, appointed by the governor to oversee the state’s transportation development, awards project contracts for road and bridge construction every month. The next meeting is scheduled for 11 a.m. June 5.

Contracts, bid information, the commission’s monthly agenda and project details can be viewed at www.odot.org.

May 02, 2017

Sand Springs Board of Education approves 5-year Strategic Improvement Plan

May 02, 2017/ Scott Emigh

The Continuous Strategic Improvement (CSI) team was recognized for their work in developing the 5-year plan for SSPS.

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The Sand Springs Board of Education handed out a plethora of awards at their regular monthly meeting Monday evening and discussed the strategic plan for the next five school years.

Brock Smith received the Sandite Spirit Award for making the 2017 Academic All State team, Charles Page High School Head Baseball Coach Bill Hutson received a Coin of Excellence, and the team behind the new Strategic Plan received the Sandite Pacesetter Award and were recognized both individually and as a group.

The official mission for SSPS going forward will be to "empower every child to maximize their potential for responsible productive citizenship in the 21st century." The strategy identifies four pillars for success.

Empower Students with successful learning and behaviors.
Empower Teachers and Staff through successful recruitment, training, mentoring, school culture, and climate.
Empower Families and Community with successful community and family engagement.
Empower Resource Innovation through successful integration of technology, environments for learning, and financial support and resources.

Allison Potts, Angelia Noel, Brian Jackson, Catrina Edgar, Claudia Smith, Christina Abbott, Dick Ford, Emily Glaser, Jay Rotert, Jennifer Smith, JJ Smith, Kami McCabe, Karen Biggs, Liz Binger, Megan Morrow, Michael Bynum, Mikael Howard, Mindy Roley, Renee McFarland, Rusty Gunn, Sarah Lattie, Stan Trout, Sylvia Fooshee, Vicki Harbaugh, Sharon Dean, Sharon Wilbur, and Stephanie Hyder were all a part of the Continuous Strategic Improvement (CSI) team.

The Board approved three out-of-state trips for the CPHS Volleyball team. The Lady Sandite varsity squad will head to camp in Branson, Missouri, while the 7th Grade, 8th Grade, JV, and Freshman teams will make two trips to a camp in Fayetteville, Arkansas. All three trips will be held in July. The trips are funded in full by the Booster Club.

The Lady Sandites celebrated their best season in school history last year and Head Coach Janna Green was named the Frontier Valley Conference Coach of the Year. The volleyball season will begin in August, possibly up to a week before the school year actually begins.

The Board rescinded an agreement passed last month with Oklahoma LED, then passed the same agreement but along a lease-own option rather than outright purchase.

The Board authorized the use of $55,449.50 to hire American Demolition to raze the former Twin Cities Elementary building. The school intends to retain the property with expectations of district growth in the foreseeable future, but the currently building would be too costly to renovate.

The Board authorized a $0.05 increase in the price of student lunches, as recommended by the Director of Child Nutrition.

The Board voted in favor of shortening the 2016-2017 school year by one day, thanks to a number of unused snow days. The last day of school for students will be Thursday, May 25th, allowing teachers to use the 26th as a professional day without having to return after Memorial Day Weekend.

The Board approved a $35,240 contract with Sports Unlimited for a partial floor replacement in the Ed Dubie Field House. The plan also includes a $5,000 contingency. The floor became warped on one side of the court, within the three-point line, during basketball season. The Lady Sandite Conference Champion team had to give up their right to host a Regional Tournament because of it.

The Sand Springs Board of Education meets on the first Monday of every month in the Charles Page High School Fine Arts Building at 7:00 p.m. The meeting is open to the public with opportunities for public questions, concerns, and comments.

April 24, 2017

This Week in Sand Springs

April 24, 2017/ Scott Emigh

Monday

8:00 a.m. CPHS Boys' Tennis - Union Tournament
8:00 a.m. CPHS Boys' Golf - Bartlesville Tournament
5:00 p.m. CPHS Girls' Soccer - Home game vs Deer Creek
7:00 p.m. CPHS Boys' Soccer - Home game vs Deer Creek
7:00 p.m. CPHS Baseball - road game at Owasso
7:00 p.m. Sand Springs City Council Meeting
8:00 p.m. Sand Springs Municipal Authority Meeting

Tuesday

CPHS Slow Pitch Softball - Regional Tournament at Westmoore
- times TBA
8:00 a.m. CPHS Girls' Tennis - Union Tournament
8:00 a.m. CPHS Girls' Golf Regionals - Broken Arrow
7:00 p.m. CPHS Baseball - Home game vs Owasso

Thursday

4:00 p.m. Frontier Valley Conference Track Meet - Union
5:00 p.m. CPHS Baseball - road game at Tulsa NOAH

Friday

4:00 p.m. CPHS Tennis - Rotert Night at Home
4:30 p.m. CPHS Baseball - Road game at Booker T. Washington

April 24, 2017

City Council prepares for upcoming bond election, discusses new roads and economic incentives

April 24, 2017/ Scott Emigh

The Sand Springs City Council met in a regular meeting earlier this month and discussed proposals for an upcoming General Obligation Bond Election. All of the proposals are still in their early stages and will likely be reworded, reorganized, and tweaked before being presented to the public. Council will hold public hearings on the proposals before they are finalized.

Proposal One relates to streets and roadways and in its current form would total $3.565 million. $1.445 million would be directed towards street overlays and repairs, while $2.06 million would be used to construct a new roadway over the levee separating River City Parks from OmniTRAX.

The new road would help alleviate traffic delays along Wilson Avenue between Morrow Road and US-64. Proposal One would also provide the City with new equipment for overlays, as well as street sign production.

Proposal One passed unanimously, minus Councilman Brian Jackson, who was absent.

Proposal Two relates to Public Safety equipment and software and would total $2.27 million total.

$1.137 million would be used to acquire new safety computer equipment and software. According to Police Chief Mike Carter, the SSPD are having frequent failures with the current software used for recording criminal activity.

The other $1.133 million would be used to replaced a 27-year old ladder truck. According to Fire Chief Mike Wood, the current vehicle is an open cab truck which is unsafe and no longer produced, and only has single-point seat belts. The truck has continued maintenance issues, the internal waterway is extremely corroded and could cost $50,000 to $100,000 to fix. The Aerial Master Stream failed at a mower shop fire a few years ago, there was a motor failure in 2006, and pump failures have also plagued the vehicle. The water tank is too small, the truck is crowded and poorly designed, and it's the only ladder truck in the department. The SSFD has applied for federal grants to replace the truck annually for the last decade but haven't received one yet.

Proposal two passed unanimously.

Proposal Three would provide for a renovation of the clubhouse at the Canyons at Blackjack Ridge golf course. The clubhouse would be redesigned to a more open event center concept. "We're doing well at the golf course and we want to maintain that reputation as one of the better golf courses in the Tulsa area," said Mayor Mike Burdge.

The proposal would also provide for parking lot lighting and electrical work at the Jerry Adair Baseball Complex, as well as Museum improvements, neighborhood park improvements, a new playground at Angus Valley, and neighborhood trail improvements around Pratt Elementary and Clyde Boyd Middle School.

Part of the funding would be used to build a visitor's center at Keystone Ancient Forest. According to Parks Director Grant Gerondale, current guided hikes are ran off a truck tailgate. The only bathrooms on the premises are port-o-johns. An observation tower would also be built in the forest.

One point of contention around the proposal was $3 million to be used for building a memorial for military, police, and fire. The proposed memorial would include the names of more than 5,000 Oklahoma servicemen and women with a water feature and a fire feature for retiring flags. The memorial would be built in the OmniTRAX development area next to the new City Public Safety facilities.

While all six council-members were in favor of building a memorial, debate arose surrounding how much should be spent and whether the memorial should stand as an individual proposal.

Ultimately, Councilman Jim Spoon moved that the proposal be approved with the memorial limited to $1 million instead of $3 million. The measure passed 4-2 with Councilwoman Patty Dixon and Councilman Phil Nollan voting against.

Proposal Four totaled $3.2 million and relates to equipment, building upgrades, and software. The funding would provide for the purchase of a commercial track hoe, a bulldozer, a Vactor truck, and city-wide beautification and landscaping. The City's water-treatment facility in particular would receive substantial landscaping improvements.

Proposal Five regarded economic incentives and land acquisition. Previous economic incentives provided for through bond issues led to the recruiting of Reasor's, Webco, and Wal Mart.

Proposals Four and Five were passed unanimously, though Councilman Spoon noted that they should consider separating the beautification aspect of Proposal Four into its own item.

April 17, 2017

This Week in Sand Springs

April 17, 2017/ Scott Emigh

Monday

4:00 p.m. Sand Springs Planning Commission - regular monthly meeting
- Sand Springs Municipal Building, Room 203. 100 E. Broadway St. Sand Springs OK 74063
- Click here to view agenda.
5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Oklahoma Blood Institute blood drive
- Sand Springs Church of Christ. 4301 S. 113th W. Ave, Sand Springs OK 74063
6:00 p.m. Sand Springs Board of Adjustment - regular monthly meeting was CANCELED
6:00 p.m. CPHS Baseball - road game
- Bartlesville High School. 500 S Madison Blvd, Bartlesville, OK 74006

Tuesday

State and Federal Taxes are due
8:00 a.m. CPHS Girls' Golf - Union Tournament
- Lafortune Park. 5501 S. Yale Ave. Tulsa OK 74135
5:00 p.m. CPHS Slow Pitch Softball - road game
- Union Intermediate High School. 7616 S. Garnett Rd. Tulsa OK 74012
6:00 p.m. CPHS Baseball - home game
- Sandite Baseball Complex. 405 W. 55th St. Sand Springs OK 74063
6:00 p.m. Sand Springs Cultural & Historical Museum Trust Authority - regular monthly meeting
- Sand Springs Museum. 9 E. Broadway Sand Springs OK 74063
- Click here to view agenda.
6:00 p.m. CPHS Girls' Soccer - home game
- Memorial Stadium. 500 N. Adams Rd. Sand Springs OK 74063
7:00 p.m. CPHS Band Booster Club - meeting and elections
- Charles Page High School. 500 N. Adams Rd. Sand Springs OK 74063
- Positions up for election: President, Vice President, Secretary, Co-Treasurer, CPHS Representative. Appointed coordinator positions also open.
8:00 p.m. CPHS Boys' Soccer - home game
- Memorial Stadium. 500 N. Adams Rd. Sand Springs OK 74063

Wednesday

Sand Springs Development Authority - regular monthly meeting
- Sand Springs Municipal Building, Room 203. 100 E. Broadway St. Sand Springs OK 74063
- Click here to view agenda.

Thursday

8:00 a.m. CPHS Boys' Golf - 6A State Preview
- Karsten Creek Golf Club. 1800 S. Memorial Dr. Stillwater OK 74074
1:00 to 6:00 p.m. Guns n' Hoses Community Challenge Blood Drive
- Case Community Center. 1050 W. Wekiwa Rd. Sand Springs OK 74063
- Click here for more information.
4:30 p.m. CPHS Baseball - road game
- Cascia Hall. 2520 S. Yorktown Ave. Tulsa OK 74114
5:00 p.m. CPHS Slow Pitch Softball - double header road games
- Jenks High School. 1561 N. Birch St. Jenks OK 74037
5:30 p.m. Sand Springs Education Foundation Hall of Fame dinner
- Ed Dubie Field House. 500 N. Adams Rd. Sand Springs OK 74063

Friday

3:00 p.m. CPHS Choir Trip - Branson "Music in the Park" Choir Contest
3:00 p.m. CPHS Track and Field - Muskogee Track Meet
- 3200 E. Shawnee Rd. Muskogee OK 74403
6:00 p.m. CPHS Girls' Soccer - home game
- CPHS Memorial Stadium. 500 N. Adams Rd. Sand Springs OK 74063
8:00 p.m. CPHS Boys' Soccer - home game
- CPHS Memorial Stadium. 500 N. Adams Rd. Sand Springs OK 74063

Saturday

9:00 a.m. 28th Annual Herbal Affair & Festival
- Click here for full event details.
10:00 a.m. Sand Springs OKUSA Freestyle/Greco-Roman Wrestling Tournament
- Clyde Boyd Middle School. 305 W. 35th St. Sand Springs OK 74063

March 28, 2017

City Council commissions new sidewalks, murals, vacant property acquisition

March 28, 2017/ Scott Emigh

The Sand Springs City Council met in a regular monthly meeting Monday evening and handed out a series of mayoral proclamations recognizing the Charles Page High School Wrestling Team for their State Championship wins this season.

The City of Sand Springs was recognized by the Oklahoma State Department of Health Center for the Advancement of Wellness for achieving the certified healthy designation of "Excellence." They were also awarded the 2017 State Historic Preservation Officer's Citation of Merit for the exterior rehabilitation of Page Memorial Library, which now houses the Sand Springs Historical and Cultural Museum.

SEE RELATED: Sand Springs City Council recognizes Sandite Wrestling for State Championship wins

Parks Director Grant Gerondale provided a presentation on ongoing Parks Department projects. The department has been executing controlled burns at the Keystone Ancient Forest over the past months to keep overgrowth under control. They are also establishing a controlled burn line and trail that will be approximately three miles long when complete. According to Gerondale, the forest receives approximately 3,500 visitors per year.

The River City Park renovation is well under way. The department has planted nearly 200 new trees in the largest re-foresting project in the history of the city. Two new playgrounds have been installed that Gerondale described as "second to nothing in the U.S." The disc golf course is being relocated deeper within the park and is being expanded to a full 18-hole course. There will also be a "Thunder Cares" Court built in the park.

The park is still seeing extensive use in spite of ongoing construction. The Will Ramsey Softball Park and Inez Kirk Soccer Complex both saw more than fifty teams apiece at tournaments this past weekend and the BMX track has seen increased use in the past year. The Jerry Adair Baseball Park and the Soccer Complex are both undergoing expansion with the addition of new fields.

Council unanimously approved the transfer of $51,578 from the ODOC Home Fund to the Capital Improvement Fund. The ODOC Home Fund was part of a federal program established in the 1990s to provide low-interest loans to elderly residents for home repairs. That program has long since been defunct and the funds have sat dormant for more than a decade. The money will now be used to acquire and combine vacant properties where dilapidated houses once stood in older neighborhoods.

SEE RELATED: Sand Springs Fire Station #2 to receive $1.5 million new facility

Council unanimously approved resolutions authorizing the use of Community Development Block Grant funding for construction of a sidewalk on the south side of 10th Street between Adams Road and Ray Brown Park.

Council unanimously approved an agreement between the City and the Sand Springs Public School District authorizing the use of $47,862.00 for the use of enhanced security systems, including video camera installation.

Council unanimously approved the use of $1,500,000 to construct a new building to replace Fire Station #2 in Prattville. The current building has undergone multiple remodels that have failed to improve upon chronic roof leaks, a history of mold issues, and an overall inadequate design.

This disused mill on old Highway 51 will soon serve as a welcome sign to the City.

Council unanimously approved a resolution authorizing the execution of several projects, including the commissioning of a series of murals around the community. One location planned to be the recipient of a beautification project is the abandoned silo on the property of Riverview RV Park on old Highway 51 in Prattville.

March 28, 2017

Sand Springs Fire Station #2 to receive $1.5 million new facility

March 28, 2017/ Scott Emigh

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The Sand Springs City Council approved the use of $1,500,000 to design and build a new building to replace Fire Station #2 in Prattville in a regular monthly meeting Monday evening.

The current building has undergone multiple remodels that have failed to improve upon chronic roof leaks, a history of mold issues, and an overall inadequate design.

The original facility was designed primary as a garage for holding volunteer fire department trucks. Eventually a single living quarter was constructed, then a second story was added in the 1980s. The residential structure also encroaches outside the property line by four feet along the west wall.

The apparatus bays use residential-quality garage doors and the ceilings are too low to allow proper routine maintenance. Whenever snow accumulates on the access drive the garage doors don't open high enough to allow the trucks to exit, meaning fire fighters have to keep the exits shoveled at all times.

Fritz Baily, P.C. estimates that all-new construction would cost approximately $1,357,020 as opposed to $1,237,376 for total renovation of the existing station. New construction would add more than 3,000 square feet as well as establish far better functionality.

The replacement building will be built further south and east of the current station so that the current facilities will remain open until construction is complete.

The facility will be single-story, allowing for faster response time. It will also include multiple shower rooms to provide more privacy. The current facility holds a common restroom, which will be impossible to use if and when the Fire Department hires female fire fighters.

One of three proposed plans for replacing the existing station.

March 20, 2017