The Consent Agenda was approved with the following items:
Approve minutes for the Altus Municipal Authority Meeting on August 16, 2011.
Old Budget: Approve purchase orders for FY 2010-2011 for the Enterprise Fund totaling $239,426.76.
New Budget: Approve purchase orders for FY 2011-2012 for the Enterprise Fund totaling $607,734.35. Approve claim from Bill Kennedy Plumbing Heating & Air in the total amount of $700.00 for video inspection of sewer line at Municipal Complex to be paid from Sales Tax Revenue Note, Series 2009. Approve claim from Pro Presenters, Inc. in the total amount of $5,334.34 for Multimedia Projectors, hardware, cable, connectors, etc. for the Altus High School Renovation and Addition to be paid from Sales Tax Revenue Note, Series 2009. Approve claim from Joe D. Hall General Contractors, LLC in the total amount of $232,309.71 for expenses for the Altus High School Renovation and Addition to be paid from Sales Tax Revenue Note, Series 2009.
The trustees approved Resolution No. 2011-43 amending the FY 2011-2012 Annual Budget for the Enterprise Fund by adding $4,000,000 (four million dollars) for receipt and expenditure of Series 2011 MAPS funds.
The council, with much discussion, approved Resolution No. 2011-44 amending the Altus Municipal Authority’s Agreement with the Altus/Southwest Area Economic
Corporation (“EDC”) to reduce the amount of annual compensation by $80,000.00, and deleting the position of Director’s Salary from its budget because the City hired a business Development Director to perform those duties and voted to 2) approve the Amended Agreement between the AMA and EDC. Voting against this process was trustee Chad Osborne.
Originally Resolution No. 2011-45 was to amend the FY 2011-2012 Annual Budget for the Enterprise Fund by decreasing the Economic Development payments by $80,000 and transferring the same amount to the General Fund for expenditures. It was voted on, with Osborne dissenting. Then the vote was reconsidered, and finally tabled after 20 minutes of discussion.
The trustees approved the Altus Municipal Authority granting a Sewer Easement to the City of Altus to enlarge a previously granted 20 foot wide sewer line easement (1976) from the Elks Lodge to the City, to a 70 foot wide Sewer Easement on land purchased by the AMA in 2009 from V.H.T., Inc. and B.H.G., Inc. in the NW 1/4, S15, R2N, R20W, from Falcon Road/AAFB Gate, headed south and parallel to the AAFB boundary.
The trustees voted to authorize the Chairman to sign a Contract with Fox & Drechsler, Inc. of Altus for engineering services to design and permit a project to
provide a raw water line extension to Altus Air Force Base (AAFB). Fox & Drechsler had the previous contract for this design work.
The trustees also voted to authorize the Chairman to approve the drafting of a
Contract with “True Steel, LLC” of Ada, Oklahoma in the amount of $122,950 (one
hundred twenty two thousand nine hundred fifty dollars) for roofing and sidewall
repairs at and to the Quartz Mountain Aerospace building. True Steel was not the lowest but best value bid. They have expertise in doing this type of repair and proposed a unique method to solve the leaking problems in the roof.
After discussion, the trustees voted to authorize expenditure of a portion of the “CUP” (Competitive Utility Program) rebate for improvement of the Utility Department drive up window and upgrade of electronic equipment. Interim City Administrator Bob Stephens explained about the window. The original window may not have had these problems. This current design was what the City asked for on a change order for the City Complex. Now they have safety and access issues with the drive up window. Proceeds from the above grant ($20,000) will pay for the revision in the window.
There was no new business. The meeting adjourned at 7:16 p.m. followed immediately by the City Council meeting with everyone but Rick Henry present.
The Consent Agenda was approved as listed:
Approve minutes for the Regular City Council Meeting on August 16, 2011;
Approve minutes for the Special AMA/City Council Meeting, August 19, 2011;
Old Budget: Approve purchase orders for FY 2010-2011 for the General Fund totaling $19,036.05.
New Budget: Approve purchase orders for FY 2011-2012 for the General Fund totaling $68,106.37. Approve purchase orders for FY 2011-2012 for the Workers Comp Fund totaling $5,980.34.
Approve purchase orders for FY 2011-2012 for the Assurance Fund totaling
$165,112.80. Approve purchase orders for FY 2011-2012 for the Economic Development Construction Fund totaling $4,732.09. Approve purchase orders for FY 2011-2012 for the Airport Fund totaling $1,387.45. Approve purchase orders for FY 2011-2012 for the Hotel/Motel Tax Fund totaling $20,268.45. Approve purchase orders for FY 2011-2012 for the F.A.A. Grant Fund totaling $6,175.00. Approve purchase orders for FY 2011-2012 for the Emergency 911 Fund totaling $165.82.
Approve purchase orders for FY 2011-2012 for the Cemetery Perpetual
Fund totaling $345.95. Approve purchase orders for FY 2011-2012 for the Parks Development Fund totaling $285.00. Consider approving September 15, 2011 payroll in the estimated amount of $405,189.01 and overtime in the estimated amounts of $9,359.40; mandated contractual overtime and additional overtime of $0.00 for a total of $414,366.08. Acknowledge monthly reports and minutes as follows:
City and School Swimming Pool Report- A
EDC Meeting Minutes for July 21, 2011 - B
EDC Special Meeting Minutes for August 4, 2011 - C
Main Street Altus - D
Southern Prairie Library System - E
The council members approved Resolution No. 2011-45 amending the FY 2011-2012 Annual Budget by $6,500 for a Federal Aviation Administration Grant for the purpose of engineering services.
They tabled an AMA companion resolution amending the FY 2011-2012 Annual Budget for the General Fund by adding personnel expenditures totaling $80,000 for new Business Development Director.
The council approved Ordinance No. 2011-18 to amend Section 7-61 “Electric Utility Companies”, Chapter 7 of the Altus Code 1980 to revise the list of entities that are exceptions to the provisions of the article to add “Gas Companies”, and repealing any other ordinances in conflict. This allows Centerpoint to work on their own equipment.
Take home vehicles have been a touchy subject since the City has been cutting expenses. After discussion, a take home vehicle was approved for Mike Villarreal,
Operations Foreman in the Electric Department. Others are on a list to bring their need of a take home vehicle. Council member Rick Steen said "We need a general policy on take home vehicles." Council member Jack Smiley said the City needs to be really careful financially. "We borrowed $150,000 last month and $300,000 before that. We have no emergency fund and no three percent to fund it." Five voted for the approval, two members, Jack Smiley and Mike Patterson did not.
Though they know it will be a difficult time to do this, the council voted to authorize staff to advertise for a Request For Quote (RFQ) for the City’s Workers Compensation coverage. The City has had so many claims that the coverage will be very high. At least insurance payment for coverage will be something that they can budget for, Steen said.
Altus Police Chief Tim Murphy spoke to the council regarding a vote to approve a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Southwest Oklahoma Community Action Group’s ACMI House and the City of Altus Police Department. He also introduced the new Liaison Officer, Lt. Mike Munn and ACMI House Director Holly Grace Campbell. Council member Mike Patterson asked if the wording had changed from the previous MOUs. Campbell replied that it had not changed. The council approved the MOU.
The council voted to acknowledge receipt from Altus Animal Aid, Inc. of its
written notice dated August 24, 2011 to terminate its annual “Agreement for Animal
Services” by giving the City sixty (60) days notice as per the Contract and vote to
take any other appropriate action. Council member Scot Simco asked what the plan is for the animal shelter. Stephenson said "Clean it up, and get volunteers. There are donations being made." The City is looking at whether they should run the shelter or contract it out. Council member Perry Shelton asked that "we save as many animals as we can, not kill them." Stephenson said they'll get it cleaned up and get volunteers in there so people can adopt animals.
The council, minus Osborne, voted to approve staff developing policy and to begin placing, with prior Council authorization, Court Judgments and Joint Petition Settlements on Ad Valorem Tax Rolls for payment/reimbursement. This is an additional tax. When the City used the Workman's Comp funds to pay off vendors, they lost their fund for paying court judgments. Now, the City has Workman's Comp cases before the court and will receive judgments. They must be able to pay them. Paying them off and then reimbursing their costs over a three year period is possible through using the ad valorem taxes. These could range from 11 cents per $100,000 assessed value, up to $2.78 per $100,000. Funds will be handled through the City of Altus "Sinking Fund." Steen reminded those present that claims must be reduced. Safety protocols must be followed. If they are not, then supervisors will need to be held responsible.
In an effort to see how the ad valorem taxes could pay back expenses for judgments, the council, minus Osborne, voted to approve Resolution No. 2011-46 approving a negotiated Joint Petition Settlement for $20,000.00, including attorney’s fees, in 2 Workers’ Compensation Cases (WCC #2007-09550 J and WCC #2009-15630 A) filed by former Sanitation Department employee Roger Shaw, who was injured in 2 separate traffic accidents, and authorizing the filing of a foreign judgment in the District Court of Jackson County for the purpose of placing said Judgment on the tax rolls as authorized by 85 O.S.A. § 42.
In a companion piece to the AMA, the council approved the Altus Municipal Authority’s action in reviewing the RFPs and selecting True Steel, LLC of Ada, Oklahoma and the drafting of a Contract in the amount of $122,950 (one hundred twenty two thousand, nine hundred fifty dollars) for roofing and sidewall repairs at and to the Quartz Mountain Aerospace building.
In executive session, the council discussed the purchase or appraisal of real property, located in the 500 block of south Hudson north of the railroad, namely a 158' x 300' parcel consisting of Lots 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 & 9, Block 7, Wright's Addition, owned by the Wichita, Tillman & Jackson Railway Co., Inc.
In open session, they voted to:
1) approve and execute an initial 25 year term Property Lease between the City
and the railroad, for the purpose of a parking lot for the Altus Municipal Complex,
with subsequent annual renewal terms of one (1) year;
2) authorize the payment of the one-time fee of $750.00; and
3) authorize construction of a fence parallel to the track and any necessary clearing
work, as authorized by Section 307 (B) (3) of Title 25 O.S.A.
and to also
4) authorize the execution of the written Department of the Air Force Offer to
Exchange Real Property, a General Warranty Deed to the USA of an unused, eastern border portion of the 2.8 acre tract of land, acknowledging the prior August 16, 2011 decision of the Altus Municipal Authority to execute a Warranty Deed to the USA of a 32.97 acre tract of land, all for the purpose of constructing a new Altus
AFB Main Gate and accepting in exchange two (2) Quit Claim Deeds from the USA,
Altus Air Force Base, railroad spur located south of U.S. Hwy 62, and
5) lastly to authorize the cost of filing deeds with the Jackson County Clerk, all as authorized by Title 25, O.S.A., Section 307 (B) (3).
There was no new business, and there were no Mayor’s appointments.
City Administrator’s comments and reports: Bob Stephenson said the water quality issues have been solved. High levels of manganese had made the water darker.
City Council member’s comments and reports:
Perry Shelton said he'd spoken with Bob Bartlett who was curious about a contract on City insurance. Bartlett will receive an RFP too. Bids are not due until October.
Jack Smiley asked City Attorney Catherine Coke to research whether lack of attendance at the new Monday workshops will count against a council member. She agreed to research the matter. Roll is not taken and the workshops are also available to those council members who call in on the telephone.
Mayor’s comments and reports included introducing Sean Garrison, the new Business Development Director. "He's already making calls," Webb said. "We see great things happening." Garrison may be reached by calling the City administrative office at 580-481-2202.
The meeting adjourned at 8:29 p.m.
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