During the regular session of the Altus City Council, an item that had been tabled at the Nov. 14 meeting, was next discussed. Barbara Burleson, Planning Director for the city, gave an update and another PowerPoint presentation on the property at 521 N. Grady, which is owned by Ralph Van Oostrum. This building has been on the agenda for the Dilapidated Building Commission (DBC) for 3 years, according to Mayor Gramling. The DBC had an order to demolish the substandard building. The council had given Van Oostrum 3 weeks to get a rehab plan arranged through the Altus City Planning Dept. He did not get a rehab plan established. A somewhat heated, yet genuine discussion, with views on both sides took place. A motion was made to deny Van Oostrum's appeal to the council. No second was heard, and the motion withdrawn. Then Catherine Coke, City Attorney explained that denying the appeal was voting for demolition. The motion was made again to deny the appeal, a second was found and the vote taken. It was a draw, with the Mayor stepping in to break the tie. The structure will be demolished. Coke told Van Oostrum that his only recourse was to file an injunction against the City of Altus through the District Court. Council member Scot Simco asked Van Oostrum to please donate the land to Habitat for Humanity. Several joined Simco, but the issue was moot and the council moved on.
The Municipal Trust Authority meeting was called to order with all members present. The consent agenda, included items for the old budget for FY 2008-2009 for the Enterprise Fund totaling $38,729.69. Items for FY 2009-2010 included the Enterprise Fund for $410,764.76, the claim from miscellaneous companies listed in the amount of $116,974.65 for the Altus City Hall and Safety Facility. These are paid from the Sales Tax Revenue Note Series 2009. The consent agenda was approved minus some items contested by council member Perry Shelton. Those items were discussed and then they were also approved.
The council approved the schedule of regular MTA meetings for the 2010 calendar year.
The dam safety inspection and remediation program was discussed following a report by Bob Stephenson. He said that the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) has ben required to assess how the Lugert-Altus project would hold up in case of what the government refers to as a Probable Maximum Flood (PMF). Several deficiencies have been found, not with the dam itself, but with spillways, and dikes. The City of Altus will have to share in the cost of repairing these structures. In 1942 the city sold the dam to the BOR for $40,000. That sale specified that we would have benefits and responsibilities concerning the project. The BOR will provide a list of the proposed changes to the project within 2 years. This item did not require approval, just information so the council can be planning ahead.
The council voted to award bid #92710 for mount-fused sectionalizing enclosures at $15,424.00 from Techline, Inc. in Van Alstyne, Texas. It also approved on-going sale under Altus Code 2-113 in the open market of any full roll-off container located at the Electric Dept., declaring such to be surplus or obsolete or nonessential. This will allow the city to get maximum funds from the recycled materials.
The one-year contract between Gregg Pickett and Kim Pickett and the AMA to complete transplantation of trees purchased in 2005 onto city parks, rights-of-way and cemeteries was renewed and there was no new business.
The MTA meeting ended at 7:03 p.m. and the City Council meeting was called to order.
Mayor T.L. Gramling presented 25 year pins to the following employees or their representatives: Benjamin C. Tockey - Supervisor/Building Maintenance, Mary L. Zepada - Captain, Police Dept., Michael Bennet, Sr. - Captain, Police Dept., Clay Richardson - Lieutenant, Fire Dept., and Carlos Valdez - Meter Technician.
The formal presentation of recognition of Altus Altus Fire/Rescue Combat Challenge Team Team from Mayor T.L. Gramling included specially designed signs that will be posted in the city. The signs indicate that the Altus Fire/Rescue Combat Challenge Team has won the National Fire/Rescue Combat Challenge at the National level for years 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2009 and that they won the World championship in 2004. They came in 2nd in the World Challenge this year. Our Fire/Rescue team competes against teams with up to 3,000 men, according the Chief J.R. Wheeler. Altus just has 32 men on their team. Bigger teams have people that just specialize in one part of the competition. Our team members do it all, just as they provide quality services to our community. Wheeler presented a special Spirit Award to Jimmy Rogers, team captain, for his excellent leadership. Wheeler also recognized James and Carla Thompson, of Vernon Dr. Pepper, for their valuable sponsorship of the Combat Challenge Team.
In the comments from the audience, Lloyd Colston, Director of Emergency Management for the city, presented a certificate from the Dept. of Homeland Security to Mayor Gramling. It states that Altus is NIMS (National Incidence Management System) compliant. This is important from many views, but is also required when the city applies for certain federal grants.
Some items were contested in the consent agenda, so the council firsts approved the agenda minus those items. Those contested items, brought up by Shelton, included asking why the city can't consolidate their cell phone service instead of paying several companies. He asked if someone could look into having corporate rates for the city employees' work phones. Likewise, Shelton asked if the city could bundle their telephone, internet and cable service to Cable One. It was pointed out that Cable One's telephone service is a voice over internet service so it would go off when the power was out. That certainly wouldn't work to have emergency service that didn't function independently of the electrical supply, one person in the audience commented.
After discussion of the items, they were also approved. The consent agenda included approving the minutes for the special City Council meeting and Regular City Council meeting both of Nov. 17. From the old budget, approving the following purchase orders (PO) for FY 2009-2010 for: the Workers Comp Fund for $79.20.; Capital Improvement Fund for $350.00; Landfill Improvement Fund for $71,745.67.In the new budget, approving POs for FY 2009-2010: General Fund for $122,381.15, Workers Comp Fund for $17,758.08, Assurance Fund for $146,600.30, Donation Fund for $85.00, Hotel/Motel Tax Fund for $13,925.89, Airport Fund for $2795.78. Capital Improvement Fund for $36,133.54, Street & Alley Fund for $15,843.09, Emergency 911 Fund for $571.69, Cemetery Perpetual Fund for $345.95. The Dec. 11, payroll for $364,927.50 and overtime for the same time at $8115.89 mandated overtime and additional overtime of $13,230.00 for a total of $386,273.39.
The council received reports from the following: Cable One, EDC Minutes, Fleet Maintenance Fuel Report, Main Street Altus, Southern Prairie Library System, and the Swimming Pool.
The council approved meeting dates for the regular City Council meetings for 2010, and authorized gift certificates for morale boosters to give 59 non-employees Board and Committee members.
They also approved floating Holiday (Dec 27) and Designated Holiday (July 2) and 2010 holiday schedule; the closure of checking accounts for Workers Comp Settlement and closure of Veterans Bypass Fund.
The council approved Resolution No. 2009-57 amending FY 2009-2010 Annual Budget by $3,356.00 for OK Dept. of Transportation (ODOT) Grant and transfer these funds to City of Altus Street and Alley Fund. Joe Don Dunham said this grant was based on work the city did that was reimbursed by the state.
Now that traffic has increased between the Heritage Park Theatre and Tamarack, the council approved an Oklahoma Dept. of Transportation (ODOT ) Traffic Speed Study on US Hwy 283 North, within the city limits. The addition of several new businesses may necessitate lowering the speed through that section of Hwy. 283.
Another DBC appeal was approved by the council because the owner of the property, Miguel Guzman, has made concerted efforts to complete the rehab plan for the property. The family has long worked on the residence at 1320 Frisco and the results were plainly visible in Burleson's PowerPoint presentation of the property.
The council is announcing a public hearing on January 19, at 6 p.m. on the 10-year renewal to Cable One, Inc., for a Cable TV permit. Please come give your input in this matter to the council.
The council approved moving an item to the next meeting's agenda on Dec. 22, regarding the agreement between the city and Ronald and Sheryl Willingham.
There were no Mayor's appointments, or comments from Mike Nettles, City Administrator.
Council members' comments:
Risinger: She said the City Park is the prettiest it's ever been with all the lights.
Simco: He said he likes the lights too and wishes everyone a Merry Christmas.
Smiley: none
Johnson: none
Shelton: He said that as long as the city has dilapidated buildings, "I will not vote to demolish people's houses." If you go to the Street Dept. building, you can shake the whole west wall by pushing on it. "It's very hard to take someone's property. We need to take the log out of our own eye before we take the splinter out of someone else's."
Brown: He said, "I think we've been very fair. It's up to the owner. It was sad to see United (Bunker Hill) close down, and Ford and Starbucks. Hopefully this will turn around."
Henry: He said that as you are considering your shopping list, "if you don't support it, don't be surprised when it leaves."
Willis: He said that the fundraiser for the Chautauqua, Festival of Trees is being held this Thursday night at Best Western.
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