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The Great Plains Literacy Council was selected to attend the Nonprofit Management Institute, held June 2-4 at The Cliffs Resort at Possum Kingdom Lake in Texas. Delegates included Coordinator Ida Fay Winters and GPLC Board members Kristen Balko from Altus and Mary Beth Williams of Hollis.

The intensive training provided at the Institute was sponsored by The Priddy Foundation and the Nonprofit Center, both of Wichita Falls, Texas. There were 16 nonprofit organizations from north Texas and Southern Oklahoma represented. The GPLC delegates left the Institute refreshed, renewed, re-energized and ready to implement measurable goals to effectively impact the people in Jackson and Harmon Counties.

One highlight of the training included each organization having a consultation session with professionals in the nonprofit sector. Independent Development Consultant Ragan Blackmon from Lawton analyzed organizational and financial reports of the GPLC prior to the 3-day meeting. She is a Certified Fund Raising Executive who has 30 years of service to nonprofit agencies by helping programs raise millions of charitable dollars for health care, higher education, and social services. She complimented the GPLC for years of volunteerism and education and discussed donor cultivation, planned giving, and identifying philanthropic support for literacy.

The purpose of the institute was to encourage ways to build a strong nonprofit board. Legal duties and responsibilities of board directors and staff were reviewed. The GPLC delegates were thankful for the training and will be sharing ideas with other board members and staff at the July 10^th Great Plains Literacy Council’s annual meeting at 4 pm in the Altus Public Library meeting room.

The Altus Municipal Authority and City Council will hold their regular meeting on Tuesday, June 18, in Council Chambers of the Municipal Complex. The Council will consider to appoint a 5-member Negotiation Team regarding water rights and/or leasehold water rights for the City of Altus from Round Timbers Water Well field.

The Negotiation Team will be comprised of the City Administrator, City Attorney, Director of Finance and Management, plus two City Council members, to negotiate with Leonard Keith Spears and his wife, Sherry K. Spears. Council will also vote to select the two City Council member representatives to serve on the Team.

During the AMA, Bruce Ackerman of OMPA Member Services will provide an update on OMPA activities, and then the AMA will consider items on the consent agenda.

AMA will consider to approve several bids submitted by Shoestring Enterprises, LLC., for various projects including a contract installation of an 8” water line under the intersection of North Main and Simpson Streets, for the amount of $32,300. They were also the only bidder to install a 6” water line in front of 620 South Park Lane for the amount of $11,800, and submitted the lowest and best bid for the repair of eight existing multi-media filters at the City Water Plant for this phase of the project in the amount of $690,000.

The AMA will also discuss whether to create, change, or abolish AMA Departments and/or assign additional functions and duties to AMA Departments, in the assignment of budgeted positions per Department, in an effort to realize economics and/or efficiencies in City government and/or the FY 2013-2014 Budget, under 11 O.S.A. Section 9-108 (4).

They will also consider, as addressed in the Proposed FY 2013-2014 Annual Budget for the Enterprise Fund, on revising and increasing utility rates for water, electric, sewer, sanitation (trash pickup, flat bed service, landfill) with the City of Altus to draft and approve rate increase ordinances as recommended by the AMA in this agenda item.

A Resolution to adopt the combined budgets of the City of Altus for the Fiscal Year 2013-2014 including but not limited to the Enterprise Fund will be considered.

After discussion of new business the AMA meeting will adjourn and the City Council meeting will immediately follow.

Council will receive any comments from the audience and then consider items on the consent agenda.

The Council will consider a Renewal Lease between the City of Altus and Southwestern Youth Services, Inc. (SWYS) for the rental of the Rotary Center, and also consider a Resolution expressing support and intent to renew a Contract for Administration of Emergency Telephone Service with Altus-Jackson County E-911 Regional Trust Authority.

Council will receive and acknowledge a report from the office of District Attorney, John Wampler, regarding activities and accomplishments of the Drug Task Force for the past year and vote to approve a Memorandum of Agreement between the City of Altus and the District 3 Task Force for a Multi-Jurisdiction Drug Force for the period July 1, to June 30, 2014.

A Contract for Services will be considered, for $10,000 for funds to be used for payroll expenses (to be paid in two installments in the months of July, and January, 2014), and for an Addendum for a Renewal Lease between the City of Altus and the American Red Cross Southwest Oklahoma Chapter for three rooms at the Wilson Center.

Council will consider the Mayor signing an easement #USAF/AETC-ALT-2-13-005 granted by Altus Air Force Base (AAFB) for a City electric feeder to Balfour Beatty Communities housing area for a term of five years through June 30, 2018.

An Emergency Ordinance to make revisions to Emergency Ordinance No. 2013-04 and Chapter 28, Article III, Division 1 and Division 2 Water Service, Levels of Rationing, Conservation; to revise Sections 28-87, 28-120, 28-121, 28-122, 28-123, 28-124, 28-126, 28-128; and to approve the Emergency section will also be considered and discussed.

Council will consider to award Property, Crime & Fidelity, and Inland Marine Insurance, to the lowest, best and most responsible bidder, the Oklahoma Municipal Assurance Group, with a deductible of $50,000.

Council members will vote on whether to create, change, or abolish City Departments and/or assign additional functions and duties to City Departments, in the assignment of budgeted positions per Department, in an effort to realize economics and/or efficiencies in City government and/or the FY 2013-2014 Budget.

They will also discuss and vote to authorize City Staff to draft ordinances to implement the AMA-recommended revised and increased utility rates for water, electric, sewer, sanitation (trash pickup, flat bed service, landfill).

A Resolution to adopt the combined budgets of the City of Altus for the Fiscal Year 2013-2014 including but not limited to the General Fund, Special Revenue Funds, Capital Project Funds, and Internal Service Funds will be considered.

A vote to go into executive session will be taken, to discuss in executive session a negotiation update between the City of Altus and the IAFF, Local #2749; discuss a negotiation update between the City of Altus and the FOP #120; and discuss the employment, appointment of an individual salaried public employee, James E. Wilson, Director of Finance and Management, and in open session vote whether to approve expanding the duties, title and salary of such employee, or take any other appropriate action. In open session, Council will consider any motions and votes relating to the executive session item(s).

After discussion of new business, Mayor’s appointments, City Administrator’s, Council member’s, and Mayor’s comments and reports, the meeting will adjourn.