City of Sand Springs releases Levee-A Evacuation Plan, Tulsa encouraging voluntary evacuation

The City of Sand Springs released an official Evacuation Plan for a levee-breach scenario Saturday afternoon. No levee breach has currently been detected but the City’s emergency services are being proactive.

No significant damage has been detected to Levee A at this time. However, the World War 2-era sand berms are increasingly vulnerable for as long as they are exposed to hydrostatic pressure.

In the event that a credible threat to Levee A is detected, the City will notify all businesses and citizens registered with the Emergency Phone Notification System. Businesses will be instructed to close immediately and to send all patrons and employees north of Highway 412/64.

Officers will be sent to expedite traffic, Flood Warning Sirens will sound, and no traffic other than rescue personnel will be allowed to drive south of Highway 412/64 or North on Highway 97 from South Sand Springs.

In the event of a levee breach, areas affected would include Wal-Mart, River West, all of Morrow Road, the Atwoods Shopping Center, the Harris Shopping Center, and all of Charles Page Boulevard. A full map of affected locations is below.

Officers and volunteers will be stationed in the Charles Page High School football practice field at 10th Street and Adams Road to receive airlift rescues, who will then be sent to either Broadway Baptist Church or the Ed Dubie Field House.

Relief efforts will be coordinated from the Sand Springs Emergency Operations Center in downtown.

Because of the heavy industrial operations along the river, any flooding would call for Haz-Mat quarantine in areas like OmniTrax, Morrow Road, and the entire area between Main Street and Adams Road.

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The United States Army Corps of Engineers has expressed their intent to continue outflow in the range of 250,000-260,000 cubic feet per second until at least Wednesday, possibly longer if more rain affects the region.

During the historic 1986 flood, the levees were only exposed to current conditions for approximately twelve hours. They have currently been keeping flood waters at bay for more than 40 hours with at least 80 hours to go. This is the toughest test that Levee District 12 has ever endured. In December of 2016 Levees A & B were considered to be “Very High Risk” by the USACE with levee overtopping highly likely.

County officials have stressed the need for a new and improved levee system for years. According to a 2017 report, “the levees have a history of poor performance.” The 1984 flooding along Harlow and Bigheart (formerly Blackboy) Creeks caused overtopping, extensive erosion, and foundation failure of the floodwalls. Significant repairs were made after both the 1984 and 1986 floods, but concern remains.

Levee C nearly breached Thursday due to significant erosion, but Crossland Construction Company was able to build a new temporary levee overnight from shale and rock in the West Bank Soccer Complex.

The City of Tulsa is encouraging preemptive evacuation of residential areas along the levees and has increased the police presence in areas along Charles Page Boulevard. National Guardsmen have been placed along the levees to monitor the situation and help with any potential evacuations.

Leaks have sprung in the Levee A and B dikes at 65th and Charles Page Boulevard, an unincorporated area inside the Sand Springs fenceline. The leaks are only from joints and are considered to relatively insignificant. Sandbags were stacked along the area Friday to prevent erosion and guardsmen are monitoring the situation.

Leaking levees not a concern according to Tulsa County Levee Commissioner

On Memorial Day weekend 1984 the area surrounding 65th West Avenue and Charles Page Boulevard was completely submerged in the worst flood Tulsa has ever seen. The water level from that event is painted onto the B Levee dike as a sobering reminder of the devastation that ultimately left 14 people dead in Tulsa.

Fast forward 35 years and once again Oklahoma is facing a statewide flood of historic nature. As of midnight Friday, the Keystone Dam is releasing 251,901 cubic feet of water per second. The dam has been releasing over 200,000 for 36 hours now, but during that time the lake rose two feet due to inflow exceeding 300,000. The flood control pool is at 104.92% capacity.

Not only is the ever-rising Arkansas River threatening the south side of Levee A, but a flooded Harlow Creek is steadily rising on the north side of Levee B. Page Boulevard runs right between the two, and the large concrete dikes on either side are springing leaks. The runoff from these leaks has drawn concern from local residents, but it’s of no concern to Levee officials.

According to Tulsa County Levee Commissioner Todd Kilpatrick, the leaks are perfectly normal. The dikes aren’t solid, they’re made of several concrete slabs joined together. Currently, the water is only coming out of the joints due to hydrostatic pressure. The same sight has been observed at the Keystone Dam.

Although he has spent years lobbying for increased funding and a new modernized levee system, he maintains that the current World War 2-era system is doing its job. The biggest danger to the sand-based levees isn’t the amount of water behind them, but the amount of time they’re inundated, allowing the earth to soak. and potentially liquefy.

Though the Tulsa/Sand Springs border is still safe for now, things are gradually worsening back to the west.

Case Community Park is completely flooded. Softball, soccer, and baseball fields are all submerged, as is the BMX track, the disc golf course, playgrounds, and the Rotary Super Splash Pad. As of 8:00 p.m. Thursday, water was nearly to the roof of the old soccer concession stands.

Sand Springs Parks Director Jeff Edwards says the Parks staff worked nonstop to remove as much at-risk park equipment as possible before the rising water finally brought their efforts to a stop. He believes they saved as much as $200,000 worth of picnic tables and other equipment.

The park received a $6 million remodel less than three years ago, but Edwards says the park facilities and equipment are insured. Between insurance and potential FEMA funding, finances shouldn’t be a problem for rebuilding most of the park. However, it’ll take extensive man-hours to clear debris and make repairs. All of the utilities will have to be inspected, the artificial turf in all of the playgrounds will have to be replaced, and its unclear how the waters will affect the BMX track’s berms.

On the bright side, all of the new playground equipment is expected to survive the waters without damage, as is the new amphitheater and the art pieces around the Great Lawn.

The Sand Springs Animal Shelter was evacuated Thursday afternoon as flood waters began approaching the building. The animals are being temporarily housed at the Humane Society of Tulsa. Animal Welfare workers will still be available to help with rescues.

Highway 51 is closed for the foreseeable future from Riverview RV Park west to 137th West Avenue. All four lanes are submerged due to overflow from Anderson Creek. Anderson Creek has also flooded the Meadow Valley subdivision all the way up to 26th Street, as well as the Sand Springs Sand and Gravel Company and Double H Sales.

The Tulsa Boys Home has evacuated all of their students. Privately placed boys have been picked up by their guardians, while wards of the State have been placed in temporary foster care.

The Riverside West and Town & Country subdivisions have flooded all the way up to 19th Street. At least seven blocks are under four feet of water or higher.

The White Water Recreation Area on the Southeast side of the dam has been completely flooded and closed off. Anyone wanting to view the dam will have to park on the north side of the river near Bush Creek Park.

As of 7:00 p.m. the beachfront at Candlestick Beach was flooded and beginning to cover parts of 14th Street. Voluntary evacuation is heavily encouraged for residents of the subdivision.

Oklahoma Highway Patrol has rescue boats staged at various points along the river. The Tulsa County Sheriffs Department is assisting with evacuation at Candlestick Beach and Town & Country, while the Sand Springs Police and Sand Springs/Sapulpa Joint Fire Department are occupying Highway 51 outside of Meadow Valley.

Click here to visit our Flood of 2019 homepage for extensive video and photo coverage.

City of Sand Springs Advising Citizens for Flood Potential

Sand Springs, OK - The City of Sand Springs is advising area residents, especially those in the Meadow Valley housing neighborhood to brace for the potential of additional flooding. Although the rain event has stopped for now, the lag time for waters upstream of Keystone Dam to reach Sand Springs can delay flooding activities downstream for several hours.

Last night, City of Sand Springs Police and Fire teams reached out (via phone messages and neighborhood visits) to residents in the Meadow Valley neighborhood, along HWY 51 in Sand Springs to alert residents of the potential for flooding. This area, and others in Tulsa County which may not be in City limits but are near the Arkansas River, may be affected by the planned increases in outflows from Keystone Dam later tonight.

In Sand Springs City limits, Case Community Park has now closed until further notice. All sports and trail related activities are cancelled at this site. The Case Community Center (1050 W. Wekiwa Road) however remains open.

The City urges residents to pay attention to street closures and the accompanying traffic barricades that are placed to protect public safety.

This afternoon, the USACE confirms that 100,000 cubic feet/ second (cfs) of water is being currently, with 20,000 cfs increases planned at 2 p.m.; 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., leaving the discharge at that time to be around 160,000 cfs. The USACE will revise dam operations as needed after that.

Officer Shelby charged with first degree manslaughter in death of Terence Crutcher

OKLAHOMA CITY - Governor Mary Fallin today released this statement on the decision by Tulsa County prosecutors to charge Tulsa police officer Betty Shelby with first-degree manslaughter in the Sept. 16 shooting death of Terence Crutcher:

“I pray this decision provides some peace to the Crutcher family and the people of Tulsa, but we must remain patient as the case works its way through the justice system, where a jury likely will be asked to decide whether officer Betty Shelby is guilty of the crime. And we must remember that in our justice system, officer Shelby is innocent until proven guilty.

“No matter how you feel about the prosecutors’ decision in this case, I hope Oklahomans will respect the views of your friends and neighbors because we still have to live peacefully together as we try to make sense of the circumstances that led to Mr. Crutcher’s death.

“I want to compliment Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett, Tulsa Police Chief Chuck Jordan and Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler as well as the citizens of Tulsa for keeping peace and order during this difficult time. I continue to ask that all of us keep the Crutcher and Shelby families in our prayers.”

Sand Springs musical duo to play Margaritaville opening weekend

Pictured: Jacob Dement and The Sellouts play at Los Cabos-Jenks.  

The first of four grand openings of the resort's $365M expansion

(TULSA, OK) - Officials at Muscogee (Creek) Nation announced the grand opening of the first phase of their historic $365M expansion of River Spirit Casino Resort Thursday. At 5:00 p.m. on August 25, after an official ribbon cutting ceremony with Muscogee (Creek) Nation, state and local dignitaries, the much-anticipated Margaritaville Casino and Restaurant opened to the public.

Musical duo Jacob and Vashni Dement will be playing the opening weekend Sunday night from 9:00 p.m. through 1:00 a.m. They will be only the fourth musical act to ever play at the new facility. Jacob is a Charles Page High School Class of 2004 graduate and is also a member of the Sand Springs-based band The Sellouts. 

After breaking ground in 2013, with heavy construction beginning in fall 2014, the Margaritaville Casino & Restaurant complex is the first of four phases of the massive expansion to be completed. In addition to Margaritaville Restaurant & Casino, the first opening includes the new resort grand entry and lobby, 30,000 square feet of meeting space, a Margaritaville Coffee Shop, Margaritaville retail store, resort gift store, new connectivity entrances to the River Spirit Casino, valet parking under the new porte cochere, and an expanded 3,000-space parking facility with a climate-controlled walkway.

A 27-story luxury resort tower will open in December 2016, followed by The Paradise Cove theater and Ruth's Chris Steak House in January 2017, and the LandShark Pool Bar, resort pool deck, outdoor event space and new River Parks Trail opening in Spring 2017.

"This is a game-changer not only for River Spirit Casino Resort, but the entire Tulsa region," said Pat Crofts, chief executive officer of Muscogee (Creek) Nation Casinos. "We've built an incredible destination resort and the entire region will benefit from the added jobs and boost to the local economy."

The economic impact over the two-year construction phase is approximately $303.5 million for the region and has created 4,100 unique construction jobs. Currently, more than 650 construction workers continue to work onsite daily. When all openings are complete, the expansion will provide 1,000 new direct jobs and will support an additional 1,200 indirect jobs in the region. According to the Tulsa Regional Chamber, the ongoing regional economic impact is $135.1 million annually.

The brightly-lit Margaritaville Casino is 50,000 square feet of island fun with 850 of the latest gaming machines and 27 live table/poker games; connected by portals to the existing casino and hotel lobby.

Complementing the casino is Jimmy Buffett's iconic Margaritaville Restaurant, which features multiple bars on two levels, a flavorful menu of island-inspired dishes and hand-crafted cocktails, weekend live entertainment and a margarita -erupting volcano. The 400-seat restaurant also includes two outdoor decks with spectacular views of the Arkansas River.

"This particular development marks the largest restaurant and casino complex within our portfolio, and we are excited to bring all the fun and escapism of Margaritaville to the banks of the Arkansas River and the Tulsa community," said John Cohlan, chief executive officer of Margaritaville.

Enhancements to the existing casino were also made, including a complete re-facing of the current exterior to complement and integrate with the expansion areas, as well as new signage, and a complete remodel of the Visions buffet.

Since the groundbreaking, other completed project milestones include: the addition of Johnny Rockets inside the existing casino, the newly remodeled Scoreboard, River Spirit's sports bar that features 22 flat-screen televisions (includes a 102-inch plasma television) and the opening of Jimmy Buffett's 5 o'Clock Somewhere Bar at River Spirit last summer. The most recent addition was the remodel of Elements Steakhouse into Fireside Grill, an upscale grill featuring gourmet takes on American cuisine in a contemporary setting.

The 27-story resort and convention center, slated to open in December, will feature 483 guest rooms, including 54 suites, and the upscale spa resort. The convention / meeting venue will include 30,000 square feet of meeting space, including a ballroom and a pre-function area overlooking the pool deck and casino.

Project partners in construction include Manhattan Red Stone and Program Management Group, Native.

"We are one step closer to our expansion becoming a reality," said Andy Langston, chief operating officer for Muscogee (Creek) Nation Casinos. "It has taken a Herculean effort by everyone involved to get us to this point, to what will end up being a transformative project for our entire region."

Oklahoma shows increase in ACT participation, ranks 29th in national scoring

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OKLAHOMA CITY (Aug. 24, 2016) – More of Oklahoma’s graduating seniors took the ACT college entrance exam than in the previous five years, according to information released today by ACT.

According to ACT, 2,010 more Oklahoma graduating seniors took the test, a 6.5-percent increase over the prior year’s cohort. State participation has been climbing, with 12 percent more students taking the exam since 2012.

Nationally, 64 percent of graduating seniors take the ACT, compared to 82 percent in Oklahoma.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister said when more Oklahoma students are taking the ACT, colleges are receiving more information about those students, opening the door to recruitment and scholarship opportunities for Oklahomans.

“Clearly, more of our students are exploring the possibility of extending their education beyond high school,” Hofmeister said. ”More students having access to college-entrance exams means new on-ramps to post-secondary education. This is an important and positive trend, since an estimated 62 percent of Oklahoma jobs will require a post-secondary education by 2020.”

Meanwhile, the number of Oklahoma juniors taking the ACT in 2016 skyrocketed by at least 58 percent over 2015. Last spring, the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) offered an ACT pilot program that enabled all public high school juniors in the state to take the exam at no cost to districts or students. Nearly every eligible high school participated, with 457 of 459 taking advantage of the voluntary program. In all, 35,477 juniors took the ACT as part of the initiative, compared to 22,500 the year before. The performance of Oklahoma’s juniors will be reflected in next year’s ACT score report of graduating seniors.

“Higher participation gives us a better picture of how we are doing at preparing our young people for college and career,” Hofmeister said. “The ACT, like any test, is a tool to show us areas of strength and weakness. We then act on that valuable information.”

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The state’s average composite score went from 20.7 to 20.4, while the national average composite score dropped from 21.0 to 20.8. Data shows that state composite scores are in line with changes in scores across the nation, dropping 0.3 points and 0.2 points, respectively. Oklahoma ranks 29th overall in average composite scores nationally.

The fastest growing racial/ethnic group testing with the ACT over the last five years in Oklahoma is Hispanic/Latino. This group has increased by 45.2 percent. The percentage of Native Americans in Oklahoma taking the test has declined in the same time period by 9.2 percent. However, Native Americans in Oklahoma are performing better than those in the nation. Oklahoma’s Native Americans averaged a score of 19.1, while the national average for the group was 17.1.

Oklahoma’s performance in reading matches that of the nation, both with an average score of 21.3. Meanwhile, the state still lags in math with a score of 19.5 versus a national score of 20.6.

Levi Patrick, OSDE director of secondary mathematics, said the recent instability of academic standards is one reason Oklahoma’s math scores are below average.

“With the flurry of academic standards within the past five years, our seniors have experienced a constant fluctuation in what they’ve been expected to learn. Mix in a culture of over-testing, and it has been hard to maintain a focus on content,” Patrick said. “We feel good about the future because with our new Oklahoma Academic Standards, we have identified and corrected weaknesses from previous standards. In addition to being more rigorous, the new standards have closed instructional gaps and incorporated meaningful progression across grades. We will begin to see a real difference in deep and conceptual understanding over the next few years as the transition between middle school and high school mathematics becomes much more seamless.”

Governor Mary Fallin Signs Paperwork Placing Five Additional State Questions on November Ballot

OKLAHOMA CITY – Governor Mary Fallin signed election proclamations Monday that place five additional state questions on the November 8 general election ballot.

The paperwork signed by the governor placed these issues on the ballot:

• State Question (SQ) 779, which would increase the state sales tax by 1 percent to fund teacher pay raises and other education causes.

• SQ 780, which reclassifies some criminal offenses, such as drug possession and property crimes, as misdemeanors instead of felonies.

• SQ 781, which would take money saved from implementing SQ 780 and allow counties to fund community rehabilitation programs.

• SQ 790, which would remove a section of the Oklahoma Constitution prohibiting use of state resources for religious purposes.  

• SQ 792, which would allow wine and full-strength beer to be sold in grocery stores and convenience stores.

The deadline for the governor to sign election proclamations for state questions to be placed on the November 8 general election ballot is Friday.

Two other state questions already are on the ballot. SQ 776 would declare that the death penalty is not cruel or unusual punishment and would allow the Legislature to designate any method of execution if a current method is declared unconstitutional. SQ 777 would prevent lawmakers from passing legislation to regulate agriculture unless there is a compelling state interest.

Pokemon Go! Machop nest confirmed in Sand Springs River City Parks

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

I have been hearing rumors for weeks of a Machop nest at River City Park in Sand Springs and finally got to confirm Sunday morning.

The flagship of the Sand Springs Parks Department, River City is the "Gathering Place" of Sand Springs and can frequently be found packed with families and sports teams any day of the week.  

The park features a nine-basket disc golf course with alternate tees for eighteen holes. There's a (mildly overgrown) horseshoe pit, a skate park, a splash pad, boat ramp access to the Arkansas River, numerous great fishing holes, and a large stretch of scenic paved walking/biking trails.

The park's Inez Kirk Soccer Complex is home to the Sand Springs Soccer Club recreational league and the West Side Alliance competitive soccer league. The Jerry Adair Baseball Park is the home of the Sand Springs Little League and boasts some of the nicest facilities in the region. The Will Ramsey Softball Park, Case Community Center, Sand Springs Round Up Club rodeo arena, and Sand Springs BMX Association are also found in the massive park.

The soccer complex, ballparks, community center, and park entrance are all Pokéstops and the playground is a gym. However, due to the sheer size of the park, it's not a good place to go without a solid stock of pokéballs. The stops are spread out with zero overlap and unlikely to be lured on a normal day. 

Case Community Center

The Pokémon selection is solid, however. It's not as dense of a hunting ground as downtown Tulsa by any means, but it beats your average neighborhood park by a long shot. The best spot for diversity is the Case parking lot. As soon I pulled in, I was confronted by Diglet, Nidorina, Pidgey, and Ekans. After circling around the building I added a Tauros and Eevee. From there I went to the baseball park and found Exeggcute, Zubat, and multiple Krabby. Magikarp and other water type are throughout the area.  For the Machop nest, you have to travel all the way into the park to the BMX track. Some will spawn as far out as the disc golf course, but the deepest concentration is within the BMX fence. No worries though; the track has free admission for spectators! Head over to www.sandspringsbmx.com for their schedule and enjoy some racing while you hunt! 

A great opportunity to do some hunting will be on Labor Day when the park is swarmed with participants and spectators of the Great Raft Race. River City is the launching point for the race and there will likely be hundreds of spectators playing and I would be surprised if there's not at least one or two lures running. ​

Did I mention the outstanding concessions stand that's open all week long raising money for the soccer leagues? It's located right next to the splash pad and serves an above average array of food and drink including the famous Harper's Hut gourmet Shaved Ice!

So whether you're just working towards the elusive Machoke or Machamp, or you want a fun area to enjoy some fresh air with friends or family, River City is a five star destination for any Pokémon trainer!

This week in Sand Springs

Museum Trust Authority Meeting

The Sand Springs Cultural and Historical Museum Trust Authority is scheduled to meet Tuesday, August 16th, at 6:00 p.m. in the museum.

The Board will consider approval of the FY 2017 Budget, naming Ginger Murphy as Museum Director, reallocating space for museum operations, and will discuss the July financials.

Development Authority Meeting

The City of Sand Springs Development Authority is scheduled to meetWednesday, August 17th at 4:00 p.m. in the Sand Springs Municipal Building.

The Board will receive an update on Sand Springs’s development opportunities. No action is expected to be taken during the meeting.

Sand Springs Elementary Meet and Greets

Pratt Elementary is hosting their Meet and Greet event on Thursday, August 18th from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.  The PTO will have a table set up for memberships and new spirit wear will be available for purchase.

Northwoods, Limestone, and Garfield Elementary will hold Meet-n-Greet events Monday, August 22nd, the day before school starts. Northwoods and Garfield will last from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Limestone will last from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

 City Council and Municipal Authority Meetings

The City of Sand Springs City Council is expected to meet Monday, August 22nd at 7:00 p.m. in the City Municipal Building. The Municipal Authority meeting will follow immediately after. No agenda has been provided at this time.

Tulsa County Court Clerk Runoff Election

The Tulsa County Republican Party will have a runoff election Tuesday, August 23rd.

Registered Republicans will choose between Donald Newberry and Ron Phillips for their November candidate.

Newberry is a US Air Force veteran with an Associate’s in Business, Bachelor’s in Psychology, and Masters in Business Administration.

Phillips is currently the Special Projects Director for the County Clerk’s Office and holds a business administration degree.

The winner of the runoff will take on Democratic nominee John R. Andrew in November.

Newberry won the June Republican primary with 35% to 33%.

Sand Springs Public School students return to class Tuesday, August 23rd

Meet the Sandites will also be held this day at 6:00 p.m..

Pokémon Go! Sapulpa's Davis Park

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

If you're a Pokémon Go! addict like me, you're always looking for the best new places to gather supplies, battle for gyms, and catch the elusive monsters needed to complete your Pokédex. 

Follow along with my Pokémon Go! series to discover the communities around you and save yourself the trouble of visiting useless hunting grounds.

Today I visited Davis Park in Sapulpa, Oklahoma. Located on the corner of Taft and Maple Street, this fifteen acre neighborhood park boasts four Pokéstops and one gym. The quaint, semi-wooded, walking trail is a winding and enjoyable venture with lots of cute friendly squirrels and ample seating.

I counted no less than a dozen benches and picnic tables throughout the park, as well as two pavilions, an old-school playground, a beautiful creek, and a full basketball court. There is also a baseball field, but it's not cut short enough and would be rough to play on. The playground features classic equipment that we all know and love; not the newfangled contraptions that look like they belong on the set of 50 Shades of Grey. 

While this would be an excellent park for a family outing or afternoon walk, it is NOT a good hunting ground for Pokémon trainers. Throughout my pleasant walk along the half-mile paved trail, I encountered only a single Pidgey and nothing else. You do have to walk the entire trail to reach all the Pokestops, and there is no overlap.  

So leave the phone in the car for this one and just enjoy the outdoors! 

Local couple brings Harper's Hut to River City Splash Pad

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The newest addition to the Harper’s Hut franchise opened this past weekend at the concession stand in River City Parks.

The new building opened last Friday under the management of Kim and Jeremy Herrington. Located immediately next to the new Sand Springs Rotary Super Splash Park, the concessions stand features a plethora of snack options including the famous shaved ice options from Harper’s Hut, as well as ice cream, hot dogs, Lil’ Caesar's pizza, and other food and drink.

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The Herringtons are heavily invested in River City Parks as major contributors to the local youth soccer programs. Jeremy is the President of the Sand Springs Soccer Club and treasurer of the West Side Alliance soccer club. The couple doesn’t take home any profit from their new venture into the food industry. All funds raised by the stand go directly to benefit the youth soccer programs that they oversee.

Kim runs the stand throughout the week and Jeremy relieves her on the weekends when he’s not busy as VP of Operations at Cust-O-Bend, Inc. in Sand Springs.

“We’re all about Sand Springs,” says the Charles Page Class of ‘88 graduate. “I believe in service. See the flag, hear the music. That’s us, we’re here to serve you.” 

The couple may have a lot on their plate, but that doesn’t stop them from showing up at the splash pad every day full of energy and excitement at the opportunity to give back to their community.

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When I arrived at the splash pad Saturday, Jeremy was making his rounds to visit with all the parents, introduce himself, and get to know people. The couple has purchased Frisbees, balls, and other toys for the splash pad visitors to play with, all out of their own pocket.

“The City has given us a gift,” says Kim. “The Parks Department has been above and beyond wonderful.”

“I see the smile on the kids’ faces...that’s why I’m doing this.” said Jeremy.

Hours:
Mon-Sat 10:00 AM — 8:00 PM
Sunday 12:00PM — 6:00 PM

Tuesday is Election Day, here's your guide to the candidates

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

On Tuesday, June 28th, Oklahomans will travel to the polls for the statewide primary elections. Both the Democratic and Libertarian Parties have opened their primaries to Independent voters this year, but only registered Republicans can vote in the Republican primary.

More than 400 candidates have filed for office in Oklahoma this filing period, more than in any presidential year in recent history, according to Oklahoma State Election Board Secretary Paul Ziriax. The following is a brief summary of each candidates' qualifications. For their policy views, click on their names to be redirected to their campaign web sites.

Incumbent United States Senator James Lankford has the Republican nomination secured with no challengers, as does Democratic nominee Mike Workman. Libertarian voters will choose between Robert T Murphy and Dax Ewbank for their candidate. There are also two independent candidates: Sean Braddy and Mark Beard.

• Murphy has ran for election to US House of Representatives five times and has never garnered more than 25% of the vote.
• Ewbank previously ran in the gubernatorial Republican primary in 2014 and came in third with 9% of the vote.

Current Congressional District 1 Representative Jim Bridenstine is up for reelection and is challenged by Tom Atkinson and Evelyn L. Rogers for the Republican nomination. No Democrats filed for the race. The winner of the Republican nomination will square off against Independent David Matthew Hullum. 

• Bridenstine acquired a BS at Rice University before serving nine years as a US Navy Pilot. He worked as a Defense consultant at Wyle Laboratories while attending Cornell University and working towards an MBA. He was the Director of the Tulsa Air and Space Museum from 2008 to 2010 and was first elected to Congress in 2012. He ran unopposed in both the primary and general elections of 2014.
• Atkinson has never ran for public office prior to this election. He served in the US Air Force, was a federal prosecutor in the Department of Justice, and later a bankruptcy judge for the Northern District of Oklahoma. He founded Okie Crude Company in 1985 and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Southern Methodist University and a law degree from Oklahoma City University.
• This marks Rogers's eleventh campaign for various State and Federal offices, she has yet to secure more than 16% of the vote. She holds a BS in healthcare management from the University of LaVerne, and an MA in practical theology from Oral Roberts University.

Sand Springs City Councilman Brian Jackson is challenging incumbent State Senator Dan Newberry for the District 37 Republican nomination, as is Paula L. Patterson. 

• Newberry was first elected in 2008 and won reelection in 2012 with 67% of the vote. He holds a diploma of Charismatic Ministry from ORU as well as a Liberal Arts BS with focus on Leadership and Organizational Management. He works as the Vice President of Real Estate Operations at TTCU: The Credit Union.
• Jackson was the youngest ever representative elected to Sand Springs City Council and is currently serving his third term. He is the Development Manager for Junior Achievement of Oklahoma and has previously served as the Sand Springs Vice-Mayor. He is a Marketing graduate from Oklahoma State University.
• This is Patterson’s first election campaign. She is an OSU graduate with an International Business Degree with Finance and Marketing Minors.

There are also three contenders for the District 37 Democratic nomination in outgoing Sand Springs Superintendent Lloyd Snow, Andrew Nutter, and Cory Gage.

• Snow has served as a Superintendent for 36 years, including 16 at Sand Springs. He is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma, a recipient of the Oklahoma Foundation Medal of Excellence in School Administration. He was inducted into the Oklahoma Educators Hall of Fame in 2013, was the Oklahoma Superintendent of the Year in 1995 and has twice served as the President of the Oklahoma Association of School Administrators. This is his first time running for political office.
• Nutter and Gage are also first time political candidates and neither maintains a website and have limited information available on Facebook or other platforms.

District 66 State Representative Jadine Nollan has one challenger in Emily G. DeLozier for the Republican nomination. Dianna Phillips, wife of former City Councilman Michael Phillips, has the democratic nomination locked up.

• Nollan was first elected in 2010 and won reelection in 2012 with 66% of the vote. She was unopposed in 2014. She holds a BS from OSU, is married to Sand Springs City Councilman Phil Nollan, and previously spent eleven years on the Sand Springs School Board. She was the Executive Director for Sand Springs Community Services from 2007-2010 and was the Pastor at C3 Ministries for Word of Life Fellowship from 2006-2010.
• Delozier holds a BS in International Business from the University of Tulsa.

Donald Newberry, Ron Phillips, and Mary Atkinson are running for County Court Clerk as Republicans.

• Newberry is a US Air Force veteran who served as an Explosive Ordinance Disposal Specialist. He holds an Associates in Business Administration from TCC, a Bachelors in Psychology from Liberty University, and a Masters of Jurisprudence in Indian Law from TU. He is currently the Title Research Manager in the Tulsa County Assessor’s office.
• Phillips is the Special Projects Director for the Tulsa County Clerks Office and holds a degree in Business Administration.
• Atkinson holds a BA from Drake University and is on the Board of Directors of Tulsa Camerata.

Rex Berry and Arthur Jackson are vying for the Democratic nomination for County Sheriff. 

• Berry served in the Tulsa Police Department from 1973 till 1999 and retired as a Corporal. He served as a Security Management instructor in Afghanistan, was a civilian police office in Kosovo, and an Inspector of Training Facilities in Iraq. He is a US Air Force veteran and also served in the US Army Active Reserves with the Criminal Investigations Division. He holds an Associates in Police Science.
• Jackson is a US Army veteran who has served in a supervisory position at the David L Moss Criminal Justice Center since 2001.

Vic Regalado, the incumbent from Sand Springs, is being challenged by Russell Crow and Luke Sherman for the Republican nomination for County Sheriff.

• Regalado was just elected to the position of Tulsa County Sheriff in a special election earlier this year. He previously was the lead homicide detective for the Tulsa Police in 81 cases. He supervised a Special Investigations Gang Unit and served on the Tulsa Police SWAT team for nearly a decade. He received the Medal of Valor in 2004. It’s worth mentioning that he is currently being sued by Tulsa newspaper The Frontier for failure to comply with the Oklahoma Open Records Act in regards to not releasing County jail footage. He maintains the footage does not fall under Open Records requirements.
• Sherman is a 23 year veteran of the TPD and has served as a tactical operator and assistant team commander on the Tulsa SWAT team. He is currently a sergeant leading the department’s Fugitive Warrant’s Unit and is on the U.S. Marshal’s Violent Crimes Task Force.
• Crow is an eighteen year veteran of the Tulsa Sheriff’s Office and Tulsa Police Department. He also owns a private investigation firm in Tulsa.

Michael Willis and Nancy Rothman are running for the County Clerk nomination from the Republican party.

• Willis holds a BA in Public Affairs and Administration from OU and is working towards a Masters of Public Administration. He currently serves as the Chief Deputy County Commissioner and Public Information Office and is a member of the TPD Reserve.
• Rothman serves as the Chief Deputy in the County Clerk’s Office, the President of the Board of Directors for “Neighbor for Neighbor” in Tulsa, and is a Board Member of the Tulsa County Juvenile Justice Trust Authority.

Deanna Vincent is challenging Karen Keith for the Democratic nomination for County Commissioner District No. 2.

• Keith has been the County Commissioner since 2008 and serves on various local boards and organizations. She was the President of the Rotary Club of Tulsa and serves on the Oklahoma Historical Society board of directors. She is a graduate of OSU, served as a KJRH anchor and executive producer of Oklahoma Living.
• Vincent does not appear to maintain a website, facebook page, or presence on any web forum that we could find.

Jonathan Grable and Sand Springs’s Josh R. Turley are running for the Republican nomination.

• Grable is the CEO of a local real estate management company and previously worked for Arrow Trucking Company as the Truck Assignment Coordinator. He’s served in the Oklahoma State Senate for the past six years and is an Eagle Scout.
• Turley is a 24-year veteran of the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office and is the founder of the Risk Management program for the TCSO.

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This article was originally published in the June 26, 2016 Sandite Pride News Weekly Digital Magainze. Sandite Pride News does not endorse political candidates and strives to provide non-partisan unbiased reporting of elections. Any perceived slant towards an individual is entirely unintentional.

First Annual Taste of Sand Springs boasts delicious dining experience

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The first annual Taste of Sand Springs was a success Thursday evening at the Charles Page High School cafeteria. The Chamber of Commerce event served as a fundraiser for the organization Junior Achievement. 

The dining started off with some delicious sliders from Osage Casino. Napoli's Italian Restaurant provided pasta. Reasor's deli had broccoli salad and deviled egg potato salad. Rib Crib served colossal portions of baked beans and mac and cheese with bacon. Charlie's Chicken had hearty portions of green beans and broccoli grape salad. Gander Mountain Vineyard provided open-faced roast beef sandwiches and mushroom casserole with key lime cheesecake for dessert. 

Other sweet options included Harper's Hut Shaved Ice, Sandlot Snoballs and brownies from Meadowlake Ranch. Livi Lee's donuts had a delicious treat called "Strawberry Fields," consisting of a glazed cake donut with strawberries and whipped cream. Also on hand were sixth-graders Taylor Blackwell and Sydnee Porter selling lemonade to raise money for the Cancer Treatment Centers of America.

Sand Springs City Councilman Brian Jackson was the spokesman for the evening and entertained the customers with periodic giveaways including car detailing certificates, Starbucks packages, Crescent Cafe gift cards and more. Jackson serves as the Development Manager at Junior Achievement of Eastern Oklahoma and is currently running for the Senate Seat 37.

Money raised from the event will benefit more than ten CPHS students participating in the Junior Achievement life skills programs.

“Just a short 15 years ago, I was a junior at CPHS and I had the fortune to be inspired by my community classroom volunteer with Junior Achievement.  That classroom time gave me direction to live out my American Dream alongside my wife and daughter,” said Jackson.

In Memoriam: Five years later, the David Emigh legacy

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

David Wayne Emigh was born on October 2, 1952 to Clyde Nelson Emigh and Eula Mae (Walker) Emigh and passed away June 15, 2011.

Born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, David had six siblings in Nina, Clyde, Janet, Brenda, Ralph, and Teresa. He graduated Tulsa Central High School and enlisted in the United States Army and was stationed in Germany. Upon returning to the United States, he attended Rhema Bible Training Center and graduated in 1977.

He first entered into the ministry at Calvary Temple Assembly of God in Tulsa, serving in the bus ministry and street evangelism outreach. He briefly pastored a church in Missouri, but God called him to “go to Sand Springs, start a New Testament church, and from there you'll touch the world.”

Word of Life Fellowship started out in a storefront with fourteen people, including my mother Teri, and her late husband Steve. The old church building at 10th and Adams is now the home of the church’s youth ministry, Forward.

The current Word of Life location at 1402 North 81st West Avenue was built about seven years after the start of the church and has since had extra space added on to the building. The church celebrated thirty-five years this February and September 11th will mark five years since current pastor Chad Stewart was voted in after David’s untimely death.

In David’s thirty years of ministry, he built a church of more than 800 members and helped start hundreds of churches across the world.

For decades David authored a magazine that the church published and sent to followers in 80 nations. He also wrote three books: “Knowing The Father,” “The Holy Spirit: Two Occurrences,” and “The Fourfold Blessing of the Tithe,” while maintaining a daily radio broadcast for more than twenty years that reached thousands of people across the state.

Word of Life has helped start hundreds of churches in Africa, Burma, and the Philippines and financially supports nearly a hundred churches worldwide.

He also founded the nonprofit Life Ministerial Fellowship International, which provided leadership and counsel to pastors and church leaders worldwide.

He was married to Sharon Maxey Emigh and had two children, Amanda and Phillip, and one granddaughter, Macy. In his spare time he enjoyed fishing, riding his motorcycle, and spending time with his granddaughter.

Upcoming concerts and events in the Tulsa area

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This story was originally published in the Sandite Pride News Weekly Sunday edition.

City Councilman Brian Jackson sounds off on Senator Dan Newberry

Incumbent Senator Dan Newberry faced harsh words from City Councilman Brian Jackson at a Chamber of Commerce forum Monday afternoon.

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The Sand Springs Chamber of Commerce hosted an open forum Monday for Senate seat 37 candidates. All seven candidates were invited, five attended, but the awkward drama between three of them stole the show. Outgoing Sand Springs Superintendent Lloyd Snow is running for the democratic nomination for the seat, and he's found an unusual ally from the other side of the political spectrum. 

Sand Springs City Councilman Brian Jackson is a Republican, but doesn't hesitate to endorse Snow as the best alternative to incumbent Dan Newberry, should Newberry win the Republican nomination. Jackson has even gone so far as to go canvassing with Superintendent Snow. 

Jackson, whose wife is a third-grade teacher, makes it clear that should he be defeated in the Republican primary on June 28th, his campaign won't end there.

"I believe public education is the cornerstone to our democracy, and should be guarded from politicians that want to inflict harm. I do not support any measure such as vouchers that would divert or direct tax dollars away from public education," said Jackson, an obvious jab at Newberry who failed to publicly oppose SB609, which would have redirected funds from public education to private schools. The high-profile bill received major public backlash from the education community before dying in committee. Many District 37 residents expressed frustration that Newberry failed to reply to any emails or phone calls regarding the bill, and never publicly declared his position, should it have been heard on the Senate floor.

Outgoing Superintendent Lloyd Snow will likely carry a large backing from Sand Springs residents with ties to education, but his biggest obstacle to election will be proving his qualifications in non-education fields. 

"Many politicians, including one in this room, will stand behind false over-inflated words that teachers should receive a medal for the work they do. This is merely smoke and mirrors and does not reflect a genuine thought." Jackson also claimed to have overheard Newberry rudely dismiss a Sand Springs educator's concerns on a past trip to the Capitol. "This disrespectful action will not be tolerated and I am honored to not be alone in this race to unseat the disrespectful actions of this politician." 

Newberry has faced a lot of backlash from the education community. Political Action Committee "Oklahomans for Public Education" rated the Senator as "Dangerous" and "Not Supportive of Public Ed" in their most recent list of 2016 candidates. Jackson and Snow, meanwhile, were endorsed as "Pro-Public Education." 

Newberry's not without some high profile supporters, however. Victory Christian Center Pastor Sharon Daugherty, Sand Springs City Councilman Jim Spoon, and former Sand Springs Chamber of Commerce President Mary Eubanks have all starred in promotional videos endorsing the Newberry campaign. Sand Springs Vice-Mayor John Fothergill has also expressed his support via Facebook. 

In defense of Newberry's education record, he did coauthor HB3218 to eliminate End of Instruction Exams, but it was far from a divisive bill. Twenty-seven other senators coauthored on the bill, as did forty-seven house representatives. The legislation cleared the House 95 to 1 and the Senate 45 to 1.

While Newberry faces heavy criticism from the education community, Snow and Jackson face criticism from just about everyone else. Supporters of Newberry have pointed out that while Education is crucial, it is not the only pressing matter for a Senator to deal with. Newberry's challengers have been accused of inadequately addressing the numerous duties a Senator must perform.

"Our state education system, along with other core areas of state government, including transportation, infrastructure, corrections, and mental health, is grossly and recklessly underfunded," said Jackson. That was all he said about the issues before continuing on in his pro-education spiel. 

Superintendent Snow fared about the same when it came to diversifying his platform. "It breaks my heart that we're going to have fifty-one fewer employees in Sand Springs schools next year." Snow failed to touch on anything other than education in his speech.

The Democratic challenger does have his standpoints on some key issues listed on his website. He promises to fix income inequality between equally qualified men and women working the same job. He touches on creating quality jobs and diversifying the state economy, supporting police and firemen, and giving individuals more control over their personal healthcare. Jackson, meanwhile, has no political ideology listed anywhere on his Facebook page or website, except for a brief mention that "illegal aliens-if they want to live here, they need to go through the proper procedures for citizenship." 

"It's not personal with me, it's performance," said Snow. "This past legislature--and I've got good friends there, it's not personal--it was a side-step. It wasn't a step up. Band-aid, band-aid, band-aid. Folks, this budget's gonna fail."

"It's not my ambition and it never was. But I feel an obligation...I may not tell you what you want to hear, but I will always give you 100% every day."

Tulsa County Library Summer Reading Program encourages reading at all ages

By: Virgil Noah, Marketing Director

The Tulsa City-County Library Summer Reading Program is officially underway, and this year they're offering programs for the entire family to participate in. In addition, having a library card is not required to participate in this year's programs.

The Children's Summer Reading Program is available for newborns up to children who have completed fourth grade. To sign up, simply go to any of the 24 TCCL locations and visit the Summer Reading Program table.

When signing up, children will receive a reading log, their first library visit sticker, event guide for the summer, and a free bookmark and bag. If they read, listen to, or have parents read eight books to them as well as visiting the library four times, kids will receive a medal and book of coupons for free food and entertainment. The book of coupons includes coupons for admission to the Oklahoma Aquarium, Tulsa Zoo, Tulsa Drillers game, and more! If they read twenty books and visit four times they will earn a bonus prize, an inflatable baseball bat!

After completing the program children can enter into grand prize drawings to win a bicycle, Tulsa Roughnecks FC tickets, and more. Entering the grand prize drawing at Charles Page Public Library or Pratt Public Library, conveniently located on opposite sides of Sand Springs, will result in a better chance of winning a grand prize. Each year the Sand Springs Women's Chamber donates the money for each library to purchase a bike to give away. The only way to win is the enter the drawing at Charles Page or Pratt Library. 

To sign up for the Teen and Tween Summer Reading Program you must have completed the fifth grade. Reading or listening to 6 books results in completion of the program and earns teens an ID wallet and earbuds, plus coupons for free food and entertainment. 

Charles Page Branch Manager Mark Carlson has his own reading challenge that he extends to the children and teens that filter through his library throughout the summer. If they read 100 books, they will receive a certificate recognizing their completion of his challenge and a giant Hershey's chocolate bar.  

This year is the first time the SRP features a program for adults. Adults can sign up at any of the 24 TCCL locations or at www.tulsalibrary.org. For reading or listening to 4 books, those who register will receive coupons for free food and a cool messenger bag in one of five colors. 

The Summer Reading Programs will run through August 6th, with June 20th being the first day that you can submit completed reading logs to receive prizes. 

Charles Page Public Library
551 E 4th St, Sand Springs, OK 74063
(918) 549-7521

Pratt Public Library  
3219 S 113th W Ave  
Sand Springs, OK 74063
(918) 549-7638

I-44 ramps re-open in Berryhill

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

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

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

Word of Life Church hosts FREE Community Carnival Memorial Day Weekend

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

This Saturday marks the fourth annual Free Community Carnival at Word of Life Church. The event has previously taken place at the end of summer, but was bumped up to Memorial Day weekend after the church changed to a new carnival company.  

The event will take place on Saturday, May 28, 2016 from 11:00 am through 2:00 pm.

Why the change? The ride company that the church was previously using is going through a transition and was unable to ensure their availability. Instead of putting the beloved community event on hiatus for a year, the church managed to locate an Oklahoma City based company that only had the one day available. Instead of looking at the change as an inconvenience, the church is counting it as a blessing and an opportunity to improve the experience for everyone.

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"We feel Memorial Day weekend is a great time to do it since it's the first holiday of summer. Many families are looking for something to do, so why not a free carnival!" said Senior Pastor Chad Stewart. The temperature difference will also be a big improvement. The carnival volunteers have often had to work in 90+ degree temperatures in August, so the move to May will make it far more enjoyable both for the workers and the guests.

The current forecast shows a 50% chance of rain Saturday morning that should taper off by the time the carnival begins. The potential rain should keep the temperature below 80 till after the event is over. 

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This year the carnival will have seven rides:  3-4 large rides and 3-4 smaller rides for the little kids, in addition to games, inflatables, and other activities. As always, the church will be offering free hot dogs, popcorn, snow cones, and lemonade. There will also be food and game trucks associated with the ride company, Sam's Amusements & Carnivals. These additional options won't be free, but will provide an even more authentic carnival feel than in previous years. Sandlot Sno-Balls will be providing free shaved ice during the event.

Like last year, parking will be located at the old K-Mart building on Charles Page Boulevard, as well as Northwoods Fine Arts Academy, and free shuttling will be provided.

On Sunday morning the church will be giving away $5,000 to bless guests at their 9:00 and 11:00 AM services. Each service will have five winners of $500 each.

Sand Springs City Council adopts series of goals for economic growth

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

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