ALTUS - City leaders wrapped up business in short time Tuesday night, giving their OK to several housekeeping measures and honoring some city employees for their service.

The Altus Municipal Trust Authority and City Council approved a bid with Wilmes Ford for the purchase of five new pickups for various departments. Bids for the vehicles were opened March 30 and the money for the purchase was approved in the 2006-2007 budget.

In other action Tuesday:

- The AMTA approved renewal of a contract with Sequoyah Engineering of Oklahoma City to provide assistance with program evaluation and technical assistance in support of the city's mandatory industrial pretreatment program.

- The AMTA authorized the mayor to sign a standard contract for engineering services with Glenn Briggs & Associates for design and permitting of water plant modifications for clarification of raw water fed to the new membrane plant.

- The mayor and council honored Assistant Street Superintendent Raul Ornelas with a watch for 29 years of service to the city.

- Altus Fire Chief J.R. Wheeler presented promotions to four Altus firemen: Capt. Jimmy Rogers will now be assistant chief; Leander Thacker is promoted from lieutenant to captain; Clay Richardson is promoted from driver to lieutenant; and Tim Sullivan moves up from firefighter to driver.

- The council voted to appoint Public Works Director Robert Stephenson as the primary voting member to the Harmon Electric Association, which meets next April 6 in Hollis.

- The council approved the Altus Firefighter Combat Challenge Team to compete in 2007, including regional competitions and World Championships in the fall and the use of the fire chief's vehicle for traveling to the events.

- The council authorized the Altus Firefighter Combat Challenge Team to conduct the “Burnout” competition on Industrial Drive during the Main Street Altus Car Show on May 5.

The annual fund-raiser for the team entails competition between drivers who burn out their tires in a 10-second time frame. Competitors are judged on the amount of smoke, tire spin and sound.

- The council approved three ordinances needed to adopt the Unified Development Code prepared by Kendig Keast Collaborative.