Sand Springs City Council approves new park in historic African American district

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The Sand Springs City Council recently approved a new park to be located in the RiverWest Shopping Center. Zackery Park will be named for the Zachery family who lived in the area when it was still residential, and in particular for Bessie Zackery, who was a teacher in Sand Springs.

Bessie Zackery was class valedictorian at the Sand Springs Booker T. Washington High School in 1934, and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from Langston University. She returned to Sand Springs and taught Art and Elementary Education at Booker T. Washington. Zackery reportedly spent summers at Colorado State Teachers College, Oklahoma State University, and the University of Tulsa taking graduate courses to keep Washington on the cutting edge. Zackery earned a Master’s of Teaching Arts from TU in 1959.

After 28 years at Washington, Zackery transferred to Limestone Elementary for the remainder of her career. She was named the Sand Springs Education Association 1978 Teacher of the Year, the Booker T. Washington Alumni Association 1981 Outstanding Alumnus, and the 1996 Sand Springs Hometown Hero. The Sand Springs Retired Educators Association and Oklahoma Retired Educators Association named her a Very Important Member, and in 1999 she was awarded the Ageless Hero Award by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma.

Zackery Park will be located at the southwest intersection of Alexander Boulevard and Booker T. Washington Avenue. The pedestrian sidewalk within the area will also be named “Rambler Way” in honor of the Washington High School mascot. There is currently a large pond adjacent to the future park, which is part decorative and part stormwater retention. The park will feature a steel trellis, informational signs, a concrete plaza, plants, and decorative masonry.

The RiverWest area is part of a revitalization effort by the City and was formerly one of the oldest and poorest residential neighborhoods in Sand Springs. The primarily African American district was demolished in the late 2000s, with the former Booker T. Washington High School coming down in 2010. Centennial Baptist Church is the last remnant of the historic community.

Since then, the district has added a new hotel, a minor emergency clinic, restaurants, a pharmacy, a grocery store, and a Starbucks. There are also a small strip center and a Tulsa Teachers Credit Union branch being constructed, with only a few portions of land still available.

The community has already been memorialized in the naming of its two arterial streets. Booker T. Washington Avenue was named for the high school, while Alexander Boulevard was named for Albert Alexander. Alexander reportedly immigrated to Sand Springs following the 1921 massacre of black citizens in Tulsa. His obituary reads that Alexander was “the unofficial mayor of the black section of segregated Sand Springs because of the respect that both sides of the railroad tracks had for him.”

Council also considered the name Marques Haynes Park, in honor of the Booker T. Washington alumnus and Harlem Globetrotter. The Sand Springs section of Highway 97 is already named Marques Haynes Memorial Highway.

In other news:

Council approved a specific use permit for a Medical Marijuana Dispensary at 430 West Wekiwa Road in the Cimarron Plaza shopping center. Herbal Cure, Inc. is owned by Adeel Nasir and already has one location in Okmulgee.

Council approved a permit for a Marijuana Growing Facility at 411 South Lincoln Avenue. XGrows, LLC will be located in the Morrow Gill Business Park.

Council approved a $41,500 contract with GH2 Architects for a full HVAC analysis and bidding for replacement of HVAC at the Sand Springs Cultural and Historical Museum.

Council approved a $26,608.00 expenditure to remanufacture a submersible WEMCO-Hidrostal wastewater pump and motor that recently failed at the Sand Springs Wastewater Treatment Plant. Replacing the 2001 unit with a newer model would cost approximately $80,000.00.

Council approved the hiring of Guy Engineering to perform ODOT-funded inspections on Sand Springs bridges for the next two years.

Council approved the use of a $96,303.00 Tulsa County Community Development Block Grant to replace a deteriorated 4” cast iron water line with a new 8” PVC water line along the west side of North Lincoln Avenue between 4th Street and 6th Street.

Council approved a specific use permit for a synagogue at 1124 East Charles Page Boulevard. Sar Shalom Synagogue previously opened in August of this year.

Council approved an $11,100.34 increase to an existing $71,569.62 contract with Garrow Construction. Garrow recently completed rehabilitation of the Lost City (L20) sanitary sewer lift station that was damaged by spring flooding.

Sand Springs pours new entrance to Sheffield Plaza commercial development

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Sand Springs’s newest commercial development officially has an entrance as of Friday. City of Sand Springs construction crews poured concrete on the new Huskey Boulevard entrance to the 18-acre Sheffield Plaza Friday morning. A stoplight was also installed last week, but has not been activated yet.

The development is located just a block south of the Highway 412 and Highway 97 intersection, in the most heavily trafficked area of the 20,000 person town. The area was occupied by the Sheffield Steel Mill for decades before being acquired by OmniTRAX.

OmniTRAX initially planned on building their own commercial development, but decided to sell the land to the City of Sand Springs in December of 2017. City Council officially settled on the name Sheffield Plaza in their regular October meeting, and named the Highway 97 entry road “Huskey Boulevard” in honor of the City’s only police officer to die in the line of duty.

The City’s primary target for the development is a large hardware/lumber store like Home Depot or Lowes, but hey remain open to other interested parties, as well.

In other news:

On the southeast corner of Morrow Road and Highway 97, the City of Sand Springs is constructing a decorative wall to shield the public from viewing the City Water Plant. The project was approved by the public in a 2017 General Obligation Bond Election. The facility is currently hidden behind a semi-transparent chain-link and barbed wire fence.

In the nearby River West development, ground was recently broken on a new Tulsa Teachers Credit Union branch. The 2,700 sq. ft. facility will open in 2020.

Sand Springs School District holds commemorative beam-signing at new 9th Grade Center

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Sand Springs Public Schools officials, along with select members of local government and the Chamber of Commerce gathered at Charles Page High School Friday afternoon for a commemorative beam-signing event.

The high school is currently constructing a new $14.28 million freshman academy and STEM center that will unify grades 9-12 on one campus for the first time in decades. Currently the district’s ninth grade center is located in a century-old building, almost a mile from the high school. More than 75% of students are bused from the current ninth grade center to the high school every day for extracurricular activities and certain classes.

The new wing will be conjoined with the existing building through a central lobby, but will keep younger students separated from the upperclassmen for most of the day. In addition to housing the freshmen, the new building will also provide class space for expanded curriculum.

Construction was originally expected to finish in August of 2020, but is ahead of schedule and officials are currently expecting a July completion date. This year’s class of freshmen will be the last students to walk the halls at Central Ninth Grade Center, which was previously Sand Springs High School up till 1954. The historic building will be continue to be used for administrative purposes.

The Clyde Boyd Middle School 8th Grade Student Council was invited to the beam-signing as the first class of students who will occupy the facility.


TTCU breaks ground on new Sand Springs branch

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TTCU Federal Credit Union broke ground on a new branch in Sand Springs on Oct. 30. The branch will be part of TTCU's network of branches serving communities in northeast Oklahoma. 

"TTCU is excited to join the River West Development," TTCU President and CEO Tim Lyons said. "Our members have been wanting a branch in Sand Springs for a long time, and this location will be easy to access."

The branch will be located at the entrance of the 30-acre River West Development at the intersection of Main St. and Morrow Rd. The 2,700 square-foot, energy-efficient branch was designed by Cyntergy and will be built by Cowen Construction.

"I'd like to welcome TTCU to the Sand Springs community," Mayor Jim Spoon said. "Sand Springs has been experiencing a lot of growth, and TTCU is helping us continue to build that momentum."

The branch employs a hybrid design – in-between a traditional branch and an open-concept branch - to meet multigenerational needs. The branch entrance features community space with seating and a coffee bar, and a wall of glass brings lots of natural light. Four offices will provide also space for meeting with branch staff. In addition to traditional tellers, the branch will also feature cutting-edge technology. Three interactive teller machines will connect members with video tellers for simple transactions to cut down on wait times. 

"It's great news that TTCU is moving forward with their investment in our community, and we're excited to see this project come to fruition," City Manager Elizabeth Gray said. "They will be a great addition to the retail and restaurants already in place in the River West Development."

The new branch is expected to open in 2020.

Sand Springs City Council names new commercial development

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The 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.

City of Sand Springs awards $2 million in improvements at Canyons at Blackjack Ridge golf course

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The Sand Springs City Council approved two resolutions during the October 28th City Council meeting which put into play construction plans to improve the Canyons at Blackjack Ridge Golf Club. The approved plans propel new contracts which are funded by the 2018 general obligation bond measure, which allocated $2M to make much needed improvements to the City’s course.

“These initial improvements will concentrate on the interior bones of the facility as well as the underground infrastructure work throughout the course,” stated Jeff Edwards, Parks Director for the City. “We’re building the foundation of the future for this facility. In doing this difficult work up front, we’ll create seamless transition options for future improvements with minimal downtime in course play.”

Approximately $1M of the funding will be invested on a significant clubhouse remodel project. The work will produce a much more modern, space-efficient layout for golf pro, special event and golf course grill operations including a fresh look to the clubhouse overall. The remainder of funds will be invested into a modernized and automated irrigation system, golf green replacement package and more.

“These improvements will play a major role in our goal to offer the best possible golfing experience we can,” stated Director of Golf Brian Talley for the City, whose golf operations team has made great strides with the popular course recently.

All of this work will commence before the year’s end. Golfers who enjoy one of Oklahoma’s top- rated golf courses in the Tulsa metro area should plan to see the Canyons at Blackjack Ridge closing for play during the spring and summer months of 2020. The temporary golf course closure has been determined to be the most efficient and least disruptive method for progress in order to expedite the remodel and construction work.

The clubhouse is expected to be closed December 2019 through July 2020. Staff will operate from a mobile office to keep the golf course open until the course construction company mobilizes and commences work. The golf course itself is slated to be closed from late February 2020 through much of the summer, hopefully reopening before Labor Day.

All of this work is designed to keep this tourism and quality of life destination in top condition and ready for play for many years to come. The golf pros at the Canyons and City Parks staff are excited to show the public the finished result, and are already planning a special event when the course reopens before the fall of 2020.

Once work begins, golfers can follow construction progress and receive updates from staff at the Canyons at Blackjack Ridge’s Face Book page. For more information about the City of Sand Springs, please visit www.sandspringsok.org and follow the City’s social media on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates.

Church That Matters opens free Mobile Medical Clinic in Sand Springs

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Good Samaritan Health Services and Church That Matters held a grand opening and ribbon cutting at their new Sand Springs Mobile Medical Clinic Tuesday. The free bi-monthly clinic will provide comprehensive medical care for the uninsured at 3 West 41st Street.

Church That Matters Pastor Rusty Gunn, Good Samaritan President John Crouch, and other individuals involved in the clinic spoke at the grand opening event. A line of patients was already forming well before the doors opened for the first time.

“We are so very delighted to be in the Sand Springs community,” said Crouch. “We have seen that Sand Springs is a community that really cares and shares and really helps each other.”

The clinic will be open to the public on the 2nd & 4th Tuesday of each month, opening at 4:30 p.m. The only requirement for patients to receive medical care at the clinic is that they have no health insurance. Walk-in patients are welcome. Any person wanting to receive medical care at the clinic should arrive at 4:30 p.m. Patients will be triaged and as many patients will receive services as resources will allow. Anyone unable to see a physician on the day of the clinic will have a future appointment made.

Each clinic will provide quality comprehensive medical care for approximately 10 to 12 people. Gunn hopes to be able to bring the clinic to Sand Springs weekly in the near future.

“Our church’s mission is to be a church that matters to God, to each other, to our city, and to our world,” said Gunn. “We’ve just seen this great need for health care for those who don’t have access to that. Oklahoma is 47th in overall health, 49th in cardiovascular disease, 44th in preventable hospitalization, and 43rd in diabetes. We know that there are people within this city…who sometimes have to make a choice between getting healthcare, and eating.”

Volunteers from Church that Matters along with Good Samaritan staff members will operate the clinic. This is Good Samaritan’s 13th Mobile Medical Clinic location in the greater Tulsa area. Good Samaritan’s Mobile Medical Clinics provide medical care at over 5,500 patient visits each year. Many individuals in the greater Tulsa area have come to rely on these clinics as their primary care provider.

“Our church will always have more vision than we have resource to accomplish,” said Gunn. “It takes community partners and those who are willing to jump in on those causes.” Gunn praised local philanthropists Montie and Betty Box for contributing to the clinic, as well as Ron and Pat Halcomb, and Green Country Federal Credit Union. Susan Hood will be the Site Coordinator for the clinic.

“A big thanks to the people of Church That Matters who are willing to take risks, willing to do things outside of the box, willing to do whatever it takes to see that mission accomplished. So many people from our church have jumped on board to volunteer.”

Church That Matters is known for pioneering nontraditional ministries. The church operates the Prattville Market and Southside Coneys in the same shopping center as fundraisers for their various charities and ministries. They also own the Lee’s Charburgers food truck, which is currently closed but expected to resume operations in the future.

CTM is an active member of the Sand Springs Local Church Network and is frequently involved in community events. They are one of the first churches in the state to offer a special service on Sundays geared specifically towards families with special needs children. They also operate a free coat rack at Prattville Market during the winter months, and have been extremely proactive in helping the community recover from the historic May flooding that devastated multiple neighborhoods along the Arkansas River.

SEE RELATED:
Sand Springs woman opening free health clinic in Sapulpa
SouthSide Coneys holds grand opening, owned by Church That Matters

 

Life of Riley Music & Sports Bar holds Grand Opening Saturday in Sand Springs

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“Life of Riley” is an expression meaning “an ideal life of carefree prosperity and luxurious contentment.” In the case of the new Life of Riley bar in Sand Springs, it is also the life of owner Riley Howard.

Riley and Ashley Howard have spent the past five months remodeling their building in preparation for the grand opening. Riley isn’t a native Sandite, he’s originally from the Berryhill community, but managed TJ’s Wine and Spirits in Sand Springs for the past 19 years.

Fitting the name of the bar, Life of Riley is undeniably luxurious. The upscale music and sports bar isn’t your typical westside dive. The pristine venue matches up against the finest bars in the Tulsa area in terms of cleanliness, comfort, decor, and visual appeal.

The Prattville bar features four large flat screen televisions that will all be showing NCAA Football on Saturdays. An added perk for sports lovers is the DirecTV NFL Sports Package so every game is available on Sundays.

In addition to being a prime destination for sports fans, the bar also has a live music setup and plans to host trivia and poker nights in the near future.

Life of Riley is a non-smoking bar, though they are working on a patio area for smoking and vaping. The bar does not have food in-house, but they plan to host local food trucks during peak hours, and patrons are invited to bring outside food. They have also left room in the fridge and are taking recommendations from the community on which beverages to carry.

“(Sand Springs) was just the right market,” says Howard. “I feel things are really growing this way. I think we’re the new Owasso, Broken Arrow, or Jenks. Everything’s coming out this way, and there’s just nothing like this out here. It’s the perfect spot.”

Brian O’Hara, the Deputy District Director for Congressional District 1, presented the Howards with a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition on behalf of Congressman Kevin Hern at the bar’s Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting early Saturday morning.

Life Of Riley
918.514.0179
1 East 34th Street South
Sand Springs, OK 74063

Hours
Sunday: 11:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Monday: 2:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Tuesday: 2:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Wednesday: 2:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Thursday: 2:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Friday: 2:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Saturday: 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.

Church That Matters opens free Mobile Medical Clinic in Sand Springs

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Good Samaritan Health Services, in partnership with Church that Matters of Sand Springs, celebrates the opening of a free Mobile Medical Clinic location. This clinic will provide quality comprehensive medical care for uninsured and underserved individuals living in the Sand Springs area. Pastor Rusty Gunn led the effort for his church to partner with Good Samaritan Health Services to offer this valuable and much-needed service in the Sand Springs community.

Church That Matters and the free clinic are located at 3 West 41st Street in south Sand Springs, also known as Prattville. A Ribbon Cutting event will be held at 3:45 p.m. Tuesday, October 22nd, on its first day of operations.

This clinic will be open to the public on the 2nd & 4th Tuesday of each month, opening at 4:30 p.m. The only requirement for patients to receive medical care at the clinic is that they have no health insurance. Walk-in patients are welcome. Any person wanting to receive medical care at the clinic should arrive at 4:30 p.m. Patients will be triaged and as many patients will receive services as resources will allow. Anyone unable to see a physician on the day of the clinic will have a future appointment made. Each clinic will provide quality comprehensive medical care for approximately 10 to 12 people.

Volunteers from Church that Matters along with Good Samaritan staff members will operate the clinic. This is Good Samaritan’s 13th Mobile Medical Clinic location in the greater Tulsa area. Good Samaritan’s Mobile Medical Clinics provide medical care at over 5,500 patient visits each year. Many individuals in the greater Tulsa area have come to rely on these clinics as their primary care provider.

Church That Matters also operates the Prattville Market and Southside Coneys in the same shopping center as fundraisers for their various charities and ministries.

SEE RELATED:
Sand Springs woman opening free health clinic in Sapulpa
SouthSide Coneys holds grand opening, owned by Church That Matters

Composure Health Spa holds Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting in Sand Springs

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Composure Health Spa recently celebrated its Grand Opening with an open house and ribbon cutting ceremony. Located at 1 West 41st Street in Sand Springs, the spa is owned and operated by Nurse Practitioner Stephanie Hope.

Composure offers services such as Microneedling, Microdermabrasion, Dermaplanning, Freckle Removal, Weight Management, Botox, Cool Sculpting, Laser Hair Removal, Breast Lifts, Cupping, and more.

Hope has an Associate’s Degree in Nursing from Tulsa Community College, a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from Oklahoma Wesleyan, and a Master’s Degree in Health Care Administration from the University of Phoenix. She has lived in Sand Springs for thirty years and is originally from Texas.

Deputy District Director Brian O’Hara presented Composure with a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition on behalf of Congressman Kevin Hern for “outstanding and valuable service to our community.”

Click here to view full photo gallery.

Photo Gallery of new Billie A. Hall Public Safety Center in Sand Springs

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The City of Sand Springs recently moved into the new Billie A. Hall Public Safety Center, a $10.7 million facility in the Sheffield Crossing shopping center. The building houses the City’s police, municipal jail, 911 operations, north-side fire station, and court rooms.

Sandite Pride News was recently given a tour and photo-op by Police Chief Mike Carter.

The facility is named for Sand Springs native Billie Allen Hall, who was killed in action during the Vietnam War in 1966. A special forces medic, Hall was stationed at Camp A Shau when it was attacked by North Vietnamese regiments. After losing both legs to a mortar strike, Hall refused treatment and instead worked to treat other soldiers and coordinate medical efforts until he succumbed to his injuries. He was 26 years old at the time.

The police station features memorial plaques for SSGT Hall, as well as for Assistant Chief of Police Jesse C. Huskey, the only Sand Springs police officer to ever die in the line of duty. There is also a commemorative plaque outside of the building dedicated to Sheffield Steel, which was located on those grounds for most of Sand Springs’s history. The flag pole in front of the building was relocated from the Steel Mill facilities.

All of the center’s operations were previously housed at the City Municipal Building in downtown, which is a century old. The crowded building is currently being remodeled in order to unify the various City operations that have been scattered to remote sites across town. The old downtown fire station is slated for demolition.

The new building features brand new forensic equipment, conference rooms, recreation spaces, state of the art evidence lockers, backup generators, and hardened rooms capable of protecting everyone in the facility from severe weather. The entire building is purpose-built to remove the inconveniences that officers and City workers dealt with at their previous quarters.

In addition to individual holding cells, there are two general population jail cells with restrooms, showers, televisions, and free phone stations. While many police departments charge hefty fees for phone calls, Chief Carter says he wants people to be able to make as many calls as necessary to arrange for their release so that they aren’t costing taxpayers more money by being incarcerated. Every inch of the cells are specially designed not to allow individuals to harm or hang themselves.

The City is planning on having an open house in October to allow citizens to tour certain areas of the building. The exact date and time have yet to be announced.

Sand Springs American Shaman celebrates Grand Opening under new ownership with free concert

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The Sand Springs location of the American Shaman CBD franchise is celebrating their Grand Re-Opening Saturday with a ribbon cutting and free festivities.

The store opened in 2018 but is now under the ownership of Matthew Boyd, who also operates locations in Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Ponca City, and Edmond. The franchise is based out of Mission, Kansas.

American Shaman sells ultra-concentrated Cannabidiol (CBD) oil derived from hemp. According to CBD advocates, the oil can relieve stress and treat countless physical ailments, including seizures, migraines, and more. CBD does not include Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and you cannot get high from the substance. Customers must be 18 or older to purchase CBD products, but do not require a prescription.

The Sand Springs store will be holding a free concert with local Tulsa country artist Travis Kidd from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. with a bounce house and the Curbside Comfort food truck. American Shaman is located at 630 East Charles Page Boulevard in the Atwoods shopping center.

Morrow-Gill Business Park holds Grand Opening in Sand Springs

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The Morrow Gill Business Park held a Grand Opening ribbon cutting and open house Friday afternoon in Sand Springs with free hot dogs, burgers, refreshments, and tours of their facilities.

Morrow Gill Lumber Co. was a beacon of small business for six decades in Sand Springs before it closed in 2015. Though the iconic lumber yard is no more, it lives on in the form of a new business park that aims to be a stepping stone for other small local businesses.

When partners Jeff Hilst and Dustin and Dorinda Hansen purchased the five-acre property in 2016 they were unable to recruit a new lumber or hardware store, but that didn’t stop them from developing the property. Not only have they found a tenant for the original facilities, they have also built two additional buildings to help encourage growth in the budding community.

The new Morrow-Gill Business Park features two single-story buildings totaling nearly 50,000 square feet of mixed industrial and office space. Nine of the 25 spaces have already been leased, but there’s still plenty more available for new or growing businesses in the Sand Springs or West Tulsa areas.

The warehouses feature 14’ by 14’ drive-in doors with electric openers, 16’ clear height, LED lighting, radiant heat and HVAC, and ADA-compliant restrooms. Tenants have the choice between 1,250, 1,625, 2,000, or 3,000 sq. ft. with approximately 225 sq. ft. of office space per unit.

The 1,625 sq. ft. units are 25’ by 65’ with entry doors on both ends. The 2,000 sq. ft. units are 40x50, the 1,250 sq. ft. units are 25x50, and the 3,000 sq. ft. units are 30x100 with garage doors on both ends of the warehouse, allowing drive-through convenience.

“Our biggest thing is to help people get out of their garages and find a nice place to work and grow their business,” says Dustin Hansen. The couple envisions the property as perfect for plumbers, electricians, HVAC companies, and other tradesman type businesses. “I like being able to move someone in, and a year later they’re ready to move into a bigger space.

Jeff Hilst has always lived in Tulsa and has been a real estate investor since he was 15 years old. Dustin and Dorinda aren’t originally from Oklahoma, but they’ve lived in the Tulsa area for twenty years and have extensive experience in developing Sand Springs. One of Dorinda’s first jobs in property management was the lease renewal deal that kept the Sand Springs Post Office in its current location, almost fifteen years ago. The partners also own several rent houses in the Sand Springs and Prattville areas.

Although they often deal in big ticket properties, they’re very much a small family operation. The Hansen’s two young daughters can be found helping with chores around the properties, helping envision future construction on undeveloped land, and even riding scooters in the vacant warehouses. “We’re a small business trying to help small businesses,” says Dorinda.

“We’re fully invested in doing what we can to help grow (Sand Springs) and continue developing,” adds Dustin. “We really like the area.” The partners are already looking for their next big Sand Springs development project.

Morrow Gill Business Park
Valued Partners Investments
411 S. Lincoln Avenue
Sand Springs, OK 74063
918-629-6464
http://watermarkprop.com

Sand Springs schools and Tulsa Tech partner to offer Foundations of Construction program

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Sand Springs Public Schools held a media tour and grand opening event Thursday morning at the new Tulsa Technology Center classrooms on the campus of Charles Page High School. The schools recently launched a “Foundations of Construction” program, and have also partnered in several other classes in recent years.

Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell, State Representative Jadine Nollan, and several City, District, and other local officials turned out to celebrate and speak at the event.

“Over the last five to six years we have worked studiously to construct programs and opportunities for our students to be successful and explore job opportunities,” said SSPS Superintendent Sherry Durkee. Durkee praised the district’s partnership with Representative Nollan in pushing for Individual Academic Plans for students across the State.

“We know that our job, our function, is to prepare kids for citizenship,” said Durkee. “We embrace that and today we are celebrating Construction. We have two other key Tulsa Tech programs built inside Charles Page High School. We also have Foundations of Manufacturing, and Interior Design.” The district also offers classes in Engineering, Computer Science, BioMed, and more.

“Through my time in the (construction) industry I’ve witnessed the growing stresses of these firms being unable to find qualified help,” said Tulsa Tech Board of Education member Danny Hancock. Hancock is a Construction Manager at Cowen Construction and a graduate of both Charles Page High School and Tulsa Tech. He has also served as President of the Association of Oklahoma General Contractors.

According to Hancock, 80% of construction firms report difficulties filing craft positions, and 50% report difficulties filling management positions. 72% of construction firms want to expand their labor force but can’t due to a stagnant regional labor pool.

“This program here will not have a shortage of industry members wanting to help the program be successful,” said Hancock. Several local construction businesses have committed to providing the program with guest speakers, job tours, materials, access to tools, and job opportunities.

“Instead of thinking outside of the box, let’s just remove the box,” says Superintendent Durkee. “(Let’s) create programs that give the kids what they need. That is how we try to frame our minds and our goal setting.”

The Sand Springs school district has spent recent years pushing for addition STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) programs throughout all age-levels. Students are working with engineering, robotics, virtual reality and other STEM subjects throughout the elementary and middle school levels, and a new STEM Center is currently being constructed on the grounds of CPHS.

“What we’re doing here, we have to make sure this happens all across our 77 counties,” said Lt. Gov. Pinnell. “I talk to multiple business owners every single day. They keep telling me ‘I’d hire ten people tomorrow but they don’t have the skills I need.’”

“This is not just an Oklahoma problem,” said Pinnell. “Every state is dealing with the skills gap. Thankfully you now have a national conversation about this. You (in Sand Springs) have leaders at a local level, superintendents, that realize that. On behalf of the State of Oklahoma, I just want to tell you ‘thank you.’”

“We’re going to go down to the State Capitol, take the message of what you’re doing right here in Sand Springs and make sure that we take this across our 77 counties,” said Pinnell.

“The most important thing for a community like Sand Springs, and people that want to move here is our education system,” said Mayor Jim Spoon. “That’s one of the first things they check. We are so proud of our Sand Springs school system and what they do for our city and our community. We can’t be any more proud and this is a good example.”

City of Sand Springs to begin $870,400 renovation project at City Hall

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The City of Sand Springs held a kickoff event for an upcoming remodel project Friday afternoon at the downtown City Municipal Building. The building, which was built in 1920, will be receiving a $870,400 remodel for its upcoming centennial.

The two-story 21,000 square foot facility housed the City’s police, municipal courts, and 911 operations until the past month. All three transitioned to the new $10.7 million Billie A. Hall Public Safety Center in the Sheffield Crossing commercial district, which also houses the Fire Department.

During the remodel, the City Council chambers will be relocated to the first floor and Customer Service will be moved to the front entrance of the building. Information Services and Neighborhood Services will be brought to City Hall from satellite locations.

The renovation will be partially funded through a 2013 General Obligation Bond election with additional allocations from City Council.

Sand Springs authorizes $2 million in renovations to Canyons at Blackjack Ridge golf course

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The Sand Springs Municipal Authority passed a resolution authorizing more than $2 million in renovations to The Canyons at Blackjack Ridge golf course and clubhouse Monday evening. The entire clubhouse will undergo extensive remodeling, and improvements will be made to the course greens, tee-boxes, sand bunkers, and cart trails.

City of Sand Springs staff and Talley Golf staff (the company Sand Springs contracts with to operate the golf course) have spent the last eight months working with GH2 Architects and Heckenkemper Golf to identify needed renovations at the course and clubhouse.

The clubhouse renovations will significantly reduce the pro shop and grill seating area to allow for the construction of a new banquet hall. The restrooms and other facilities will all be upgraded, and the outside of the building will receive a substantial face lift.

A new greens irrigation loop will be installed on the course, and the greens will be resurfaced with ultradwarf Bermuda. The new grass is a warm-season species that will grow best in the summer and should save the course time and money. The sand bunkers will be renovated to improve drainage and will have new white sand installed.

The course was last renovated during the early 1990s and was closed for nearly 18 months, according to a report. Both the greens and bunkers have significantly shrunk since that renovation due to erosion and encroaching grass.

Several other items will also be included in the bidding documents as alternates, but due to budget constraints it’s unclear what additional improvements will be possible.

The project will go to bid in October and the course/clubhouse will be fully closed from December through July. Projected expenses are $1 million for the course and $1.05 million for the clubhouse. The funding was approved by Sand Springs citizens in a 2018 General Obligation Bond election.

Sand Springs City Council appoints former State Senator Nancy Riley to fill vacant seat

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Nancy and Jerry Riley, Courtesy photo.

The Sand Springs City Council held its first-ever meeting at the new Billie A. Hall Public Safety Center Monday evening. During the meeting Council unanimously voted to appoint Nancy Riley to fill a vacant seat in their ranks.

Vice-Mayor Patty Dixon nominated Riley to fill the Ward 4 seat vacated by Christine Hamner, who recently moved outside of the Ward. Council had the option to either hold a general election, or appoint an applicant to finish the remainder of Hamner’s term. With the term set to expire in March of 2020, Council opted to take applications rather than spend the money to hold two general elections in a six-month period.

Riley is a former State Senator representing Senate District 37 from 2001 to 2009. She won the office twice as a Republican but switched affiliation to the Democratic Party in 2007. In 2006 she ran for Lieutenant Governor and received 23% of the vote. In 2014 she ran for the nonpartisan Ward 4 seat against John Fothergill and Terry Scott. She won the three-way race with 41%, but lost in a runoff against Fothergill with 38%. Riley ran again in 2017 against Hamner and lost 67 votes to 54. She currently serves on the Sand Springs Board of Adjustment.

Riley is a Tulsa transplant, graduating from Edison High School before attending Oklahoma Christian College and Langston University. Prior to running for office she taught at the elementary level in the Tulsa Public School system for more than a decade. She is married to Jerry Riley and has lived in Sand Springs for thirty years.

In a 2017 letter to Sandite Pride News, Riley said, “with 30 years of residency, I have also watched other cities grow and prosper in ways Sand Springs had not. It is my desire to work with our city in its development to benefit its citizens. We have several unique opportunities ahead due to diligent service of numerous Sandites that I want to be part of. It is my aim to look for ways to expand this growth through cooperation of Federal, State and County governments, without increasing the financial burdens to Sand Springs.”

Also applying for the position was Parks Advisory Board member Rick Barnett. Because Sand Springs follows Robert’s Rules of Order, they did not vote between the two candidates. Whichever candidate were to be nominated first would have to be voted on before the next applicant could be nominated.

In Other News:

Council unanimously voted to accept a water line easement granted from the Sand Springs Home. The City will be installing 161 linear feet of new 12-inch water line across the parking lot of the Sand Springs Home property at the corner of 21st Street and Adams Road, which will require an easement. In exchange for the easement, the City will also remove and replace approximately 300 square yards of deteriorated asphalt pavement located along the water line route and will install 25 feet of concrete flume to eliminate a ponding area in the parking lot.

Council unanimously voted to approve final acceptance of the public improvements to the Rivercrest subdivision on East 32nd Street between 113th West Avenue and Highway 97. The 14-lot subdivision has recently completed construction of public water, sanitary sewer, paving, and drainage improvements for the future housing development.

Council unanimously approved a one-year extension to an agreement between the Sand Springs Police Department and the Sand Springs Public School District. The Department provides a School Resource Officer to the District at a cost of $37,014.00. That price tag is estimated to be about half the cost of providing the officer. The Department covers the other half.

Council unanimously approved the purchase of a compact excavator with attachments and trailers for the Water Maintenance and Operations Department. The Yanmar Vio55-6 device and accessories will be purchased from DitchWitch of Tulsa for $78,200. The trailers will be purchased from DitchWitch for $55,500.

Council unanimously approved the replacement of a water treatment flow control valve. The valve in need of replacement supplies raw water to the City’s Water Treatment Plant and was installed in 1992. The City will purchase a B5 valve from H*E Engineered Equipment Company for $83,941.00

Council unanimously voted to update an existing interlocal agreement with the Sand Springs Cultural and Historical Museum. The City previously provided funds for a single part-time employee, but will now assume responsibility for all employees. The funding amount will not exceed $10,103 per fiscal year.

Planned site of a new five-lot development.

Council unanimously voted to adopt a Planned Unit Development overlay for a residential single-family district with five lots on the northeast corner of 6th Street and Industrial Avenue in the Sunrise Second Addition. The ordinance will reconfigure three existing lots to run north to south, as opposed to east to west, in order to fit two additional homes. The houses will face 6th Street, which doesn’t currently have sidewalks. They will all include two-car garages with driveways, and will be listed at approximately $100,000 per home.

Two citizens spoke in opposition to the development. Both raised concern regarding the amount of vehicles that will be added to the neighborhood through five additional homes, and the traffic it could create.

Council unanimously approved Ordinance 1341, amending the City Zoning Code to put into place minimum architectural standards regarding what types of metal siding and finishing materials would be allowed in various zoning districts.

Council unanimously voted to detach a property located on the corner of Highway 97 and Pond Drive. The property was annexed by the City by request of the property owner at their May 20th meeting. The property was previously being considered by developers for a potential Dollar General location. Since that deal fell through, the property owner wanted to return the land to its original Osage County jurisdiction.

Council unanimously voted to approve the purchase of a Pierce Velocity Pumper at a price of $700,538.98 from Conrad Fire Equipment.

Council unanimously voted to extend its existing contract with EMSA for emergency medical services at a price of $261,708.

Following the City Council meeting, the Municipal Authority meeting convened.

Trustees unanimously approved a two-year extension to a contract with Covanta for recovery of energy derived from disposal of solid waste collections.

Trustees unanimously approved a resolution authorizing certain improvements at the Canyons at Blackjack Ridge Golf Course and Clubhouse. The entire clubhouse will undergo extensive remodeling, and improvements will be made to the course greens, tee-boxes, sand bunkers, and pathways. The project will go to bid in October and the course/clubhouse will be fully closed from December through July. Projected expenses are $1 million for the course and $1.05 million for the clubhouse.

Phoenix Academic Center opens in Sand Springs at former Moriah Christian building

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The Phoenix Academic Center will soon be opening its doors for its first school year in Sand Springs. Previously known as Cornerstone Tutorial Center, the home-school resource recently relocated from Tulsa to the site of the former Moriah Christian Academy at 680 East 41st Street.

The school was founded in 1990 and was previously located at Eastwood Baptist Church in the 11th and Mingo area. Along with the move, the school is also changing up the curriculum and rebranding.

The school offers a-la-carte classes for parents who struggle with teaching certain subjects, as well full course loads. Preschool and early elementary students can attend five days a week, with the option for parents to attend with them and collaborate with the teacher.

The school focuses on STEAM-based curriculum, which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics. They also will be offering basic life skills classes such as car maintenance and financial literacy. Those workshops will be held on Saturdays and open to the public.

The school will also offer a study hall and tutor to help students with homework between classes.

“It’s not a six hours a day, five days a week thing,” says Head Administrator Angela Leasman. “You can get so much more done as a homeschooling parent. My kids would have all their required work done by noon if they got up early, and they could sit in their pajamas to do it.”

Leasman has one child still in the system and her two oldest children are now teachers at the school. She also had grandchildren and cousins in the school. She joined the school as a parent volunteer four years ago and has since taken the reigns of the organization.

The Phoenix Board of Directors maintains Christian values, but is nondenominational and doesn’t require its students to be religious, nor do the teachers preach religion in class. “We accept everybody as long as they understand we are faith-based,” says Leasman. “I want everyone to be aware of (our faith) but I want them to also understand that we don’t expect them to believe what we believe.”

The school will be holding an Open House Saturday, August 17 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Parents are invited to tour the school, meet the teachers, and fill out an application. The school isn’t too restrictive, but requires an interview process to make sure that the school is a good fit for each kid. “We don’t want anybody to enroll and then regret it later,” says Leasman. She also plans on inviting some other local home school groups to the event. “We all offer different things. There’s really no competition.”

Morrow-Gill Business Park opens in Sand Springs, looking for new tenants

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Morrow Gill Lumber Co. was a beacon of small business for six decades in Sand Springs before it closed in 2015. Though the iconic lumber yard is no more, it lives on in the form of a new business park that aims to be a stepping stone for other small local businesses.

When partners Jeff Hilst and Dustin and Dorinda Hansen purchased the five-acre property in 2016 they were unable to recruit a new lumber or hardware store, but that didn’t stop them from developing the property. Not only have they found a tenant for the original facilities, they have also built two additional buildings to help encourage growth in the budding community.

The new Morrow-Gill Business Park features two single-story buildings totaling nearly 50,000 square feet of mixed industrial and office space. Nine of the 25 spaces have already been leased, but there’s still plenty more available for new or growing businesses in the Sand Springs or West Tulsa areas.

The warehouses feature 14’ by 14’ drive-in doors with electric openers, 16’ clear height, LED lighting, radiant heat and HVAC, and ADA-compliant restrooms. Tenants have the choice between 1,250, 1,625, 2,000, or 3,000 sq. ft. with approximately 225 sq. ft. of office space per unit.

The 1,625 sq. ft. units are 25’ by 65’ with entry doors on both ends. The 2,000 sq. ft. units are 40x50, the 1,250 sq. ft. units are 25x50, and the 3,000 sq. ft. units are 30x100 with garage doors on both ends of the warehouse, allowing drive-through convenience.

“Our biggest thing is to help people get out of their garages and find a nice place to work and grow their business,” says Dustin Hansen. The couple envisions the property as perfect for plumbers, electricians, HVAC companies, and other tradesman type businesses. “I like being able to move someone in, and a year later they’re ready to move into a bigger space.

Jeff Hilst has always lived in Tulsa and has been a real estate investor since he was 15 years old. Dustin and Dorinda aren’t originally from Oklahoma, but they’ve lived in the Tulsa area for twenty years and have extensive experience in developing Sand Springs. One of Dorinda’s first jobs in property management was the lease renewal deal that kept the Sand Springs Post Office in its current location, almost fifteen years ago. The partners also own several rent houses in the Sand Springs and Prattville areas.

Although they often deal in big ticket properties, they’re very much a small family operation. The Hansen’s two young daughters can be found helping with chores around the properties, helping envision future construction on undeveloped land, and even riding scooters in the vacant warehouses. “We’re a small business trying to help small businesses,” says Dorinda.

“We’re fully invested in doing what we can to help grow (Sand Springs) and continue developing,” adds Dustin. “We really like the area.” The partners plan to hold an open house in the near future with tours of the available units, and they are already looking for their next big Sand Springs development project.

Morrow Gill Business Park
Valued Partners Investments
411 S. Lincoln Avenue
Sand Springs, OK 74063
918-629-6464
http://watermarkprop.com

Sand Springs named 17th best place to live in Oklahoma

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The Chamber of Commerce website recently released its list of the best cities to live in for each state. Sand Springs ranked 17th in Oklahoma, one spot ahead of the state capitol, Oklahoma City.

The online small business resource based its selections on five criteria: employment, housing, quality of life, education, and health. 

Top Twenty Oklahoma Cities 

  1. Enid

  2. Broken Arrow 

  3. Bixby

  4. Ponca City

  5. Edmond

  6. Owasso

  7. Bartlesville 

  8. Norman

  9. Stillwater

  10. Ardmore

  11. Tulsa

  12. Ada

  13. McAlester

  14. Yukon

  15. Claremore

  16. Durant 

  17. Sand Springs 

  18. Oklahoma City

  19. Shawnee

  20. Tahlequah 

Click here to view the full Chamber of Commerce article.