Present were Mayor Clay Loosen, City Attorney Dan Webber,
Harriette Nitzel, Councilpersons Edna Justice, Brenda Curry, Brent Wilkinson, Gary Olsen, Bobby Spencer, Doyle
Province, Richard Hightower, (Kendra Baker was absent); Warren Rice, Marvin
Schweigert, John Massey, Donnie Dunn, Lloyd Hursh, Verlin Bills, Robert
Daugherty, Terri Crawford.
Prior to the meeting being called to order, Bobby Spencer handed
some documents to Robert Daugherty about a company who wants to make a
presentation at the next City Council meeting to contract with the City for
outside Code Enforcement services.
Mayor Loosen reminded everyone to turn off their cell
phones. A sign remains on the door of the
council room stating that the meeting may not be recorded without prior
permission by the Mayor.
Minutes of the prior
meeting (of Aug. 27, 2013) were asked to
be approved with a correction requested by Richard Hightower. Mr. Hightower pointed out that the minutes of the meeting prepared by the City Clerk did not
reflect that Dr. Robert Spencer left the council chamber shortly after the
Executive Session was called to order and prior to any discussion. The correction was
noted by the City Clerk and the minutes were approved. Claims for August to be paid by the City,
given to each City Council member, were also approved without discussion.
Mayor Loosen said he had already made a proclamation to
recognize September 28, 2013 as National Public Lands Day and Richard Hightower noted that no action of the council was needed.
A member of the council asked what the proclamation entailed, and Mayor
Loosen read a portion of a letter handed to him by Harriette Nitzel.
The Police Committee has made a recommendation that the City
hire Kewan Joseph as a new police officer for Watonga. Chief Massey said Mr. Joseph is 26 years of
age, single but engaged, from Guthrie, and is “physically capable” for the position. Mr. Joseph is
CLEET-certified and previously worked for Logan County. Chief Massey noted that the City’s increase in starting
salaries is resulting in our ability to hire more experienced officers. Mr.
Joseph should be able to start work on Friday, September 6.
Marvin Schweigert, Donnie Dunn, and Warren Rice have requested that some scrap
metal from those departments (described
as old signs, manhole lids, poles etc.) be
declared to be surplus so that it can be sold as scrap. The motion was made, seconded, and approved.
Another hiring item on the agenda was for a volunteer
firefighter. Kade Griffin currently works
for the light and water department and Warren Rice has vouched for him. Verlin Bills said that two volunteer
firefighters, Brian Rice and Gary Flynn) are retiring at the end of this month. Still looking for more prospects
Under New/Old Business, Dr. Spencer noted that a company named
American Community Contractors LLC would make a presentation in two weeks about
Code Enforcement services they offer. He
also said he had given a written summary of their serviceds to Robert Daugherty
this evening. Harriette Nitzel reminded
the council that the next meeting would be on September 16 instead of September
17 due to the planned absence of Mayor Loosen, Harriette Nitzel, and Doyle Province on the 17th.
Clay Loosen stated that the Water Tower had been painted,
and that he had made an “executive decision” on the logo, which differed from
the previously presented logo. He asked if a light could be placed on
the tower and Warren said that there
were lights on both towers and tht he would reposition them for better lighting. Asked when the
tower would be ready for service, Warren Rice said it depended on results of tests, but that it takes two
days to fill the tower.
Clay Loosen said he has gotten information from Weatherford
and Kingfisher on Permit Fees and is waiting to review those with City Attorney
Dan Webber before recommendations are brought before the City Council.
Donnie Dunn indicated that there was been more vandalism at
Huff-Lorang Park, at the concession stand and in the women’s rest room. There is limited camera surveillance and Clay
Loosen said we need “town-wide cameras”, surveillance at all city
buildings. Kids have also been getting on top of the Library roof in spite of video surveillance. Bobby Spencer suggested that the City putout a request for bids for additional cameras and monitors. No action
could be taken on the matter at this meeting because it was not an agenda
item. Clay said that the City Code provides for a $200.00 reward for a vandalism conviction. Doyle Province asked about the status of park
lights he thought had been approved and purchased, and there was some confusion
about whether the poles or the lights, or both, had been approved by
Council. Warren Rice said he had mercury
vapor lights for the park but that they had not yet been installed. He indicated that the matter
was discussed at the Department Head meeting that morning. Doyle Province suggested they move forward on
that installation.
Doyle Province asked Donnie if the Splash Pad was open over
Labor Day Weekend, as he had driven by a couple of times and saw the gate locked. Donnie responded
that it was open.
The matter of Jim Jones’ property and junk car violations
was brought up. Robert Daugherty said he
wanted to talk to Dan Webber about it.
Clay Loosen, Robert Daugherty, and Dan Webber plan on meeting at 1:30
p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 4, to discuss it.
Chief Massey said that the cars in violation of Code could only be towed by a state-approved
wrecker and that would be Reed’s in Canton.
Richard Hightower asked Chief
Massey if he was going to “start enforcing Code” (referring to the junk car
ordinance) and Chief Massey said he is. Mr. Hightower thanked Chief Massey.
The Public Works Authority meeting was called to order
immediately following adjournment of the City Council meeting. Minutes of prior meeting and claims were
approved. Lloyd Hursh was approved for
hiring as Airport Manager under a contract for $1,850.00 per month. He will not be provided health insurance or
other employee benefits. Mr. Hursh is
eager to clean up the property.
The roofing project on the Hospital is underway. Richard Hightower reminded the council that
the bids for the paint job which are due by September 17 will have to be opened
at the following meeting of the council, on October 1. After the painting project, the next major
item to be dealt with t the Hospital is the heating and cooling system. An estimate of approximately $10,000 was
discussed. There was more discussion about the need to hire an engineer as a
project manager to manage the completion of needed repairs and maintenance
covered by the bond issue and whose responsibility that would be. Dr. Spencer reminded the council that OMPA
had indicated they offered to provide an engineer to consult on the HVAC project.
Mercy has contacted them and has been waiting for a call back. Mr. Hightower asked to be notified once OMPA
has responded.
Mr. Hightower asked if we have an accounting of the bond
monies and what has been spent out of it so far. Harriette
Nitzel indicated that those funds were held in a separate account and she would
provide an accounting to Mr. Hightower.
Dr. Spencer noted
that there has been an increase in ER visits since Mercy took over management
of the Hospital. Richard Hightower
commented that patients with state insurance coverage (OPEC) will decrease
after October 1 because Oklahoma has opted out of participation in the Medicaid
provisions that go into effect on that date.
/Linda Barrett