by Paula Peterson,

asst to editor

At the Tuesday, April 20 Altus City Council meeting, the overall issue seemed to be the desire and need to fulfill the spirit of the MAPS projects. The voters authorized a total of a possible $34 million dollars to be raised through a one-cent sales tax to be assessed for 10 to 12 years. Currently, the City does not want to take on the whole $34 million in debt, in case sales tax revenues will not be enough to make the payments. For now, $24 million has been appropriated, while $8 million has been encumbered for the City Hall and about $13 million encumbered for the Altus High School project, according the City Finance Director Joe Don Dunham.

MAPS was designed and voted on to split the amounts equally between the Altus Public School District and the City of Altus.

The original estimate for the City Hall project, according to Council member Jack Smiley, had been $5.5 million. Now including the electronics and furnishings necessary for occupation, the final amount will be $9 million. That amount was capped by the council at the April 20 meeting.

Some have thought, as the cost of the City Hall has risen, other MAPS projects voted for may be lost by the wayside. To that end, the council, with support from Dr. Joe Leverett, has reiterated the need to provide funds for economic development for Altus. The council voted to cap economic development funds to $5 million from MAPS. Also, the council has rededicated efforts to build a fire substation, in addition to the Senior Citizens Center. For these two projects, the council has capped a total of $3 million to be split between them.

Lease agreement not yet approved by Jackson County EMS

At the April 20 City Council meeting, Director of Jackson County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Shaun Cecil spoke to the council regarding a possible site for a new fire substation.

The EMS Board has not yet approved leasing the lot just north of the EMS on North Park Lane in Altus, but is considering the possibility for a long term lease between Jackson County EMS and the City of Altus for this lot. The EMS Board has not voted to approve the lease and no details have been discussed, as it was a comment item, not on the agenda. According Cecil, it is permissible for the City to order a geotechnical survey to assess the possibility of building on the lot.

Sites are being assessed for new Senior Citizen Center

If the former Altus High School library is found to be too small or not in the right configuration for a senior center, a new facility may be built. Mayor Gramling appointed a committee, headed by Council member Peggy Risinger, to help research this issue. Two City-owned pieces of property have been suggested as possible sites for the Senior Citizens Center.

The first lot that could be considered is east of the Altus Community Center on Falcon Road in Altus. If this site were to be chose for a new Senior Citizen Center, there would be access to the walking trail around the City Reservoir. This property does not have drainage issues and an additional parking area could be shared by the Community Center and the Senior Center.

The second site is at Falcon Road and Jackson Street, a lot just west of Imagination Station. Imagination Station is a landmark so people would know the Senior Center location if built there. This location has two large water lines running through it and drainage could run south onto the tennis courts.