by Shaunna Cooper,

asst. to editor

After a 30-minute executive session, the Altus City Council voted to authorize the City to seek a declaratory judgment in Jackson County District Court in regard to the legality of the recent sale of the large Hangar #33 at the Altus/Quartz Mountain Regional Airport during a regular meeting on Tuesday evening in Council Chambers.

At the recommendation of City Attorney, Catherine Coke, the board proceeded with the action in response to a taxpayer demand letter that was presented a few days ago to the City by 15 residents questioning the legality of the one million dollar sale of the hangar to the Southwest Technology Center (SWTC).

SWTC had previously leased the hangar for its aviation programs.

Councilman Don Johnson did not attend the executive session due to a conflict of interest; he also opted not to vote on the action taken by the Council.

Councilmen Jack Smiley and David Brown voted against an executive session to discuss the matter in private.

Another issue on which the board did not see eye to eye was the recommendation of the Altus City Planning Commission to change zoning for property on the east side of the 400 block of North Main Street from urban center to auto-urban commercial.

Councilman Rick Henry was diehard in his stance to not put a car wash on the property and Councilman Scot Simco (AKA Jelly Bean) agreed; nevertheless, the measure passed with a vote of 6-2.

After a report from District Attorney John Wampler concerning the City-supported DA’s Drug Task Force, the council unanimously voted to approve a Memorandum of Agreement between the City of Altus and the agency for the period of July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010.

The Council also approved a renewal of the Contract between the City of Altus and the Oklahoma Department of Corrections (ODOC), as well as a Memorandum of Understanding for receipt of $469,412.36 in 2007 grant local funding and assignment of funding to the state of Oklahoma.

Municipal Court Judge Ken Darby and Alternate Court Judge and Juvenile Judge Phil Olson were both reappointed by Mayor T. L. Gramling and the mayor urged citizens to come out to a meeting to discuss the future of the Museum of the Western Prairie which is experiencing funding problems.

The meeting will take place at the First National Bank and will begin at 7 p.m.