September 7, 2010 Meetings

Before beginning the update for the Council and Trustees I thought I would take a moment to discuss recent developments on our two military sites.  The National Guard Armory at the corner of S 13th and Opal is now in the control of the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality.  This transfer of responsibility was necessary in order for the ODEQ to expend EPA "Brownfield Sites" Grant funds for the remediation of primarily lead based paint, lead contaminated particles on the floor, and asbestos.  ODEQ just completed that remediation in Pawnee at a cost of $360,000.  When completed a transfer of property will be done.  We will get a building with no contamination with new doors and windows, and possibly new flooring.  There is a possibility that they will let us occupy certain parts of the building before the remediation is completed.  We have talked internally that the building would be very well utilized by bringing the fire equipment from southwest of town closer to the center of town.  Also, we have discussed the need to get some more space in the police.  A large room is now being used as the Emergency Response Center.  We think that the offices at the Armory would suit this purpose.  In any case the transfer would be done sometime after July 1, 2011.

The Roush Army Reserve Center transfer is also at ODEQ awaiting their concurrence with the original environmental assessment conducted by the Army who knows how long ago.  I have been told that this is the last box to check before the Army Corps of Engineers located in Tulsa can begin the negotiated sale of the property.  I have also been told that this department of ODEQ is good to deal with and will move forward.  At least we have the control of the property located in Oklahoma.

We have possibly four agendas with action items this next week.  The first is the Airport Authority with two action items.  Both items are related to the same project.  When we awarded the bids for the installation of taxiway lights, signs and rotating beacon they came in well under the Engineers Estimate.  The project was enough under budget that we are able to do the engineering and design work on the next part of our five year plan.  That part is to correct the flooding problems we have experienced in front of the hangers.  When we receive a hard rain with a lot of water quick, or a blowing rain, water gets into the hangers under the doors.  The cost of the design and engineering is $48,500 with the remaining funds from our last grant covering $46,075.  This leaves the Airport Authority match at $2,425.  Since we didn't know about the excess funds before the budget was approved we need to do a Budget Amendment to provide the necessary funds from the contingency line to make the match.

The action items for the Public Works Authority are related to the school improvement project that we have agreed to facilitate.  In order for the Trustee bank, BancFirst of OKC, to expend the funds from the construction fund and meet our audit needs we need to approve the school's contract with Joe D. Hall Contractors, LLC as the Construction Manager and approve the expenditure of funds for "Package A" under the Guaranteed Maximum Price Amendment.  It takes to actions to fully accomplish this.  These are not contracts between the City and Hall, but rather contracts between the school and Hall that you are formally acknowledging in order to allow the expenditure of funds.

There is a agenda item to allow for an executive session to allow for a discussion with legal counsel regarding pending litigation.

There are five action items under the City Council Agenda.  We will open bids and consider the authorization for the expenditure of funds for the Street Overlay Project.  We have $110,000 in the Capital Improvement Fund Contingency line available for this purpose.

The second action item is to open bids and consider the expenditure of funds for the purchase of materials and labor necessary to install metal shading over the six softball and baseball fields.  This expenditure will be made from the remaining ABP Construction Fund that has a current balance of approximately $75,000.  We are also exploring the idea of grading, installing field irrigation, and sprigging the area east of the entry road for the purpose of creating two "Coach Pitch" fields as originally designed.  The idea is to let the grass grow for two or three years before putting up the fences and starting play in that area.

The third action item is to consider the condemnation of property owned by Rheubin Brinkley on N. 6th.  This the property between the Northside Grocery and Nicholson Monuments.  Toby working with Ryan believes that we have found a way to get the Oklahoma Health Care Authority lien removed and allow for the demolition of the structures that are not occupiable.

The fourth action item is to accept property being donated to the City in lieu of foreclosure by Max Murphy.

The fifth and final action item is to authorize the expenditure of funds for Platting of a Housing Addition south of the ONG office building that we discussed some weeks ago.  The scope of the project is 35 acres more or less and would contain up to 150 building sites.  The not to exceed price to accomplish this is $122,480 and would be paid from the Economic Development Fund.