Briggs told the council that the project was enhanced even since the scope of work had changed in 2003. Various points were discussed by the council. Council member Rick Henry asked if the subcontractor could be paid based on ODOT approval. Simco said that 4 council members have never even seen this design. Smiley stated that he thought the project will "run about $3 million." He asked Briggs if their fees will be over $200,000 for the project. Briggs stated "Yes." Council member Peggy Risinger made a motion to approve paying Briggs what is owed his company so they could pay the subcontractor. Smiley seconded Risinger's motion and the council approved paying Briggs and Associates for work completed on the project, approximately $70,000. Briggs stated to the council that he will have copies of the design to the City by next week.
The Altus Municipal Authority met prior to the Counil meeting with Council member Perry Shelton discussing selected items on the consent agenda. The remainder was approved. Following discussion, the items were also approved. The consent agenda included: approval of the minutes of the Feb. 2 meeting, and minutes for the special meeting Feb. 4; purchase orders (POs) for the 2008 - 2009 Fiscal Year for the Enterprise Fund for $756.77; POs for FY 2009-2010 for the Enterprise Fund of $1,312,849, POs for items related to the ice storm; a $14,979 claim for the completion of the Altus City Hall and Safety Facility.
The financial report was presented by Joe Don Dunham, City Finance Director. The sales and use taxes received in Jan. were $395,680, which was down 15% ($71,241) from Jan. 2009. This was a $1,773 decrease from Dec. 2009. The City is still lagging, according to Dunham, behind by 7% compared to last year's figures. The full holiday shopping sales tax figures are not in yet. These figures do not include the MAPS dedicated sales and use taxes. Council member Jack Smiley asked that Dunham explain that even though sales figures may be up for a given period, they are most likely up due to the increase in the sales tax rate for the MAPS projects.
General Fund expenditures are up 8% from last year ($7,645 to $7,089); the Enterprise Fund expenditures up 80% due to MAPS ($24,980 to $13,872); the Airport Fund expenditures are down 6% ($350 to $373); the Emergency 911 Fund expenditures are up 14% $315 to 276). Total revenues taken in are up 10% due to dedicated MAPS tax ($23,861 to $21,665). Total expenditures are up 54% due to the MAPS projects ($33,289 to $21,609).
The Altus City Council met following Altus Municipal Authority meeting, with all council members present.
In the comments from the audience, Council member Scot Simco introduced Volunteer Coordinator Keith Sands. Sands informed the council about an emergency booklet he has prepared with local information for Jackson County. The Emergency Planning Committee has already purchased 500 of these booklets for the severe weather training to take place on Feb. 25. In addition to information on the booklet, Sands told the council that many Volunteer Corps hours have already been turned in for our FEMA credit. Be sure to turn in your hours spent on ice storm clean up.
Lloyd Colston, City Emergency Management Director, gave the time and location of the severe weather training, Feb. 25 at 6:30 p.m. at the Southwest Technology Center, 711 W. Tamarack.
Council members David Brown and Perry Shelton had selected items on the consent agenda to discuss. The remainder was approved.
Following discussion, the items were also approved. Several consent agenda items include approval of the Feb. 2 Emergency City Council meeting and special meeting of Feb. 4; and purchase orders for: the FY of 2009-2010 for the General Fund $119,040.19; Assurance Fund $145,579.80; Airport Fund $23,852.90; Landfill Improvement Fund$34,520; Street & Alley Fund $764.75; Emergency 911 Fund $144.91; Cemetery Perpetual Fund $306; and purchases for the ice storm related purchases. There is also payroll in the amount of $362,915 and overtime of $208,795, totaling $571,711.17. The following reports were received: Altus Great Plains Recreation, Fleet Maintenance Fuel Report, and the Swimming pool.
In executive session, members discussed a pending tort claim filed by Jesse Coronado. This claim was denied.
The annual evaluations for the Human Resource Director, the Finance Director, and the Information Technology Director were all accepted and appropriate step-increases were approved.
Mayor T.L. Gramling had no new appointments.
Mike Nettles, reminded the council that they need to come up with a new project using the Hotel/Motel tax to increase business in Altus. The senior center must be discussed too. The OMPA dinner meeting is this Thursday night. Altus High School awarded their bids for the MAPS project. The bids were low but things can happen when renovation is involved. The council also needs to proceed on the airport site improvement. This will include land acquisition to extend the runway to be able to bring in other types of aircraft to the municipal airport. A council work meeting to cover these subjects will be held March 12 at 3 p.m.
City Council members comments:
Peggy Risinger said she's received many thank you's for the employees that helped restore the power. She said she received one from Betty Wall who asked her to convey her personal thanks to City employees.
Scot Simco - nothing
Jack Smiley - extended his sympathy to Sid Willis for a death in the family.
Don Johnson - nothing
Perry Shelton asked that in the light of the new City Annex, can we start to clean up S. Main Street before the ribbon cutting? There are rundown conditions and abandoned vehicles. People coming into town from Texas may get the wrong idea about Altus.
Mike Nettles asked if everyone's noticed how people located around the City Annex are getting rid of junk and cleaning up the area.
David Brown said the City had done tremendously well in the ice storm. He wondered why the emergency planning meetings were not broadcast on the radio.
Matt Coppock, Public Relations officer for the City, said that the meetings at the EOC were planning meetings and that information shared at those meetings would have been confusing to broadcast. They hadn't come up with locations for debris collection, for example. People would have put debris in the wrong location. Mary Esparza worked with Matt to give information out to the community on KWHW.
Peggy Risinger commented that the council needed to be educated on the City's emergency protocol.
Matt Coppock said there will be an after action meeting when that will be discussed.
Peggy Risinger said we never had a meeting on the disaster plan. We were not notified as to our responsibility in the ice storm.
Mike Nettles said that Lloyd Colston will give the council a briefing. Many people were not prepared for this disaster.
David Brown commented about the large potholes that are growing on Park Lane. A comment was made that it's too cold to make a batch of asphalt now to patch those.
Rick Henry said to Sid Willis that he was sorry for his loss of his mother.
Sid Willis asked that the drainage committee meeting be rescheduled, (which was approved by Nettles) and said that the cemetery office needs a fax machine and a copy machine to function effectively.
Mayor's comments: T.L. Gramling told Sid Willis his prayers were with him. He said thank you to all the council members and employees. "We'll continue to work together to take care of these things."
The council meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.
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