The City Finance Director, Joe Don Dunham gave a report on the purchases made since April 6. Those totaled $1,254,813, with $5258 being storm-related. He also presented the financial report ending March 31. Dunham said that City revenues are up 18 percent above those for March 2009, and the sale of electrical energy is up seven percent. Expenditures for personnel are up 11 percent, and for supplies down seven percent. Debt for the City was down 18 percent for March.
The meeting went into executive session and the council approved the purchasing some real properties for the City of Altus. More details will be released when this is firmed up.
There was no new business.
The meeting adjourned at 7 p.m.
The Altus City Council met following Altus Municipal Authority meeting, at 7 p.m. All council members were present.
The council recognized and congratulated Master Officer David Dickerson, Master Officer Billy Fowler and Reserve Officer Larry Hurd for their successful completion of the Master Officer Exam.
Mayor T.L. Gramling presented the award for Employee of the Quarter for January, February and March to Carlos Valdez, who was nominated by his supervisor, Dennis Murphy.
Mike Turner, representing Main Street Altus gave information on the upcoming Rock-n-Rumble Car Cruise on May 8.
Major Ron Mott of the Salvation Army recognized the Altus Fire Department for its volunteerism. The Altus Firemen participate in contributing coats for citizens, Angel Tree, the Christmas distribution, and other activities in the community. Major Mott presented a plaque to Chief J.R. Wheeler for his staff.
Comments from the audience included J.R. Wheeler who thanked Major Mott for the plaque, and introduced the Operation Prom program which will be presented at Altus High School at 1 p.m. on April 22. This is an educational program against drinking and driving. Lloyd Colston, director of Emergency Management for the City of Altus, said that the Small Business Administration is having meetings to help businesses that were affected by the January-February ice storm. They will be in town through April 28.
The consent agenda was approved with the minutes of the April 6 meeting, POs from FY 2008 for the General Fund of $768.94; POs for FY 2009-2010 for the General Fund of $62,617.71, Workers Comp Fund $32,089.71, Assurance Fund $140,961.80,Donation Fund $170.00, Airport Fund $5,142.01, Emergency 911 Fund $430.90; payroll of $372,176.44, overtime $7,922.27 mandated contractual overtime and additional overtime of $9,724.05 for a total of $389,822.76.
Monthly reports were received from Southern Prairie Library System and the Swimming Pool.
Chief J.R. Wheeler recommended the council approve a request from Emergency Medical Services (EMS) for an above ground storage tank of liquid propane for the emergency generator for EMS. EMS Director Shaun Cecil spoke to the council regarding the importance of EMS being self-sufficient, especially in times of disaster. The council voted to approve the variance, allowing propane storage for EMS.
Also approved was the FY 09-10 audit engagement letter between the City and the audit firm of Ronald C. Cottrell, CPA. Council member Don Johnson added a caveat to his approval, that the auditor's report not be released to anyone prior to presenting it to the council.
The next item seemed to encapsulate the more important items discussed. The council discussed the MAPS project, as proposed by Council members Jack Smiley and Rick Henry. (See MAPS Projects)They asked the council to set budgets, priorities, and schedules for MAPS projects.
Dr. Joe Leverett explained that "Make Altus Progressive (MAPs), or Altus's version of MAPS, was rather borrowed from the Oklahoma City acronym for metropolitan improvement. He said the MAPS projects for Altus were designed to give a better quality of life here. There was no well-organized opposition against MAPS and it passed with 70 percent of the votes. Now, Leverett said that if the City doesn't take care of people's money, there may be a well-organized opposition to any future MAPS II. He said that the City, Altus AFB, and now MAPS have invested $100 million into the area, all during a time of economic downturn. Leverett asked the council to take care of all those who supported MAPS. "I strongly ask you to support economic development," he said.
Council member Rick Henry said "We need to know how much we are going to spend and address everything we do. It's unethical not to address everything on the ballot."
Council member Jack Smiley said he had researched the original MAPS projects. He said that the City Hall original estimate was $5.5 million. "When it was $8.2 million, no one said a thing."
Nettles added that even $8.8 million is not realistic with electronics, furniture, compressor, and generator to make the building "move in ready."
EMS Director Shaun Cecil again addressed the council and said that the property belonging to the Jackson County EMS, located just north of their facility on N. Park Lane, can be leased by the City on an extended time frame for a fire substation. The EMS Board has already approved such a move if the City wants to use it.
Smiley proposed a $9 million cap be placed on the City Hall, that $5 million be saved for economic development, and that the remaining $3 million be divided between a new fire substation and a Senior Citizens Center. After some rather heated discussion, these "not to exceed" caps were approved unanimously.
Public Works Director Bob Stephenson, gave the council information on Storm Reconstruction Services, Inc. (SRS) for the debris abatement. The council voted to authorize Mayor T.L. Gramling to sign a contract with for completion of cleanup, hauling, and reduction of vegetative storm debris with SRS. A question was raised as to what Altus AFB is doing with their debris. Stephenson said he didn't know but would check. He did say that the debris from the base and the city cannot be co-mingled due to FEMA regulations for reimbursement.
The approval of an agreement between the City and Ronald and Sheryl Willingham regarding 1.2 acres to Willinghams and 8.03 to the City was tabled once more due to lack of required information.
The council voted to approve Ordinance No. 2010-03 amending the Altus Code 1980, Chapter 2, Administration, Article I. regarding the rental of City facilities. It creates three categories: private party/for profit will pay 100 percent of rental; churches/schools will pay 50 percent; government/government type, social/service organizations, benevolence will have free rental. Benevolence will be defined as fundraisers for disease or property loss. This increases the rent for the City Auditorium rent from $175 to $300 per day. It also sets a deposit for all facilities, provides rules of use and penalties for violations.
In the matter to vote to approve a recommendation from the Senior Citizens Center Committee to proceed with plans to build a new Senior Citizens Center, the council ran the gamut of emotions. The Senior Citizens Center, now fell under the "not to exceed" cap placed on it by the MAPS issue of just minutes before. Misunderstandings of the survey used by the Senior Citizens Center Committee, and raised voices over this issue had several council members showing their hearts and tempers on their sleeves.
Mayor Gramling had to use his gavel to quiet the council. He remarked that he may disband the committee he had appointed, if they were not going to listen to their input. The council asked him not to disband the committee.
The council, after a long heated discussion, approved Sid Willis's proposal to proceed with plans for a Senior Citizens Center. This included geotechnical evaluations of two sites, one on the corner of Falcon and Jackson Streets and one on Falcon, on the east side of the Altus Community Center. Nettles also said it would be wise to go ahead and get the proposed fire substation site analyzed to save money on the three sites. The council liked the idea of using the dance floor at the City Golf Course with modifications and upgrades for Senior Citizens Dance Group.
The council approved a water gauge study to run from July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011.
There was no new business.
The mayor appointed Peggy Risinger, Sid Willis and Perry Shelton to the Great Plains Recreation Board. They all accepted the appointments.
City Administrator Mike Nettles nailed down noon on Friday, April 30 as the council retreat. He informed the council and audience that City Attorney Catherine Coke's mother passed away on April 19, and asked she be in their thoughts and prayers.
City Council members comments:
Peggy Risinger - none
Scot Simco stepped out
Jack Smiley - The City of Norman has had lay-offs. He is glad the City of Altus has not needed to do that. Smiley asked if the City can offer the base room on the Yates farm for debris. Stephenson said he'd investigate the base debris situation.
Don Johnson - none
Perry Shelton - none
David Brown - none
Rick Henry - none
Sid Willis - none
Mayor T.L. Gramling said that the Erolethian Club wants to donate a nice bench to the Senior Citizens Center. Also the Masons want to lay a cornerstone and install it at the Center. He also said to remember Catherine Coke in her loss.
The council meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m.
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