Freeman Rehired As City Manager
Sulphur City Council members elected Ward 2 Councilman Derek Stone as Mayor for the 25-26 year at the regular monthly meeting Monday night.
Ward 1 Councilman Alan McKay was elected vice-mayor.
Following the election, Stone took over the duties, presiding over the remainder of the meeting.
Council members heard another plea from Sulphur resident Ide Russell concerning flooding issues on his property in the 1500 block of West Tahlequah. This was Russell’s fourth appearance discussing the ongoing issue. The city spent nearly $20,000.00 several months ago to have the issue studied by Parkhill Engineering.
The results of the study were presented to members by Parkhill Engineer Brian Mitchell at the January 13 council meeting.
In his report to council members, Mitchell stated the property appeared to be a depressed area meaning the elevation was below street level. The drainage problem is caused by run-off from farmland to the north of Tulsa Street. The run-off comes through five drainage pipes and empties into one pipe which causes a lot of the problem besides the low elevation. The homes basically sit in a hole and the porches are walk-in ground level.
Mitchell questioned why the City would allow homes to be built in the area but stated we should not allow it to happen again.
Council members have repeatedly informed Russell the issue is actually between the property owner and the original land owner/ developer.
Russell’s request for the city to replace a 24” culvert with a 36” culvert could not be approved because it could create issues further down stream.
Members took no action on a request by Abby Dixon to rezone part or all of block 143 in the City of Sulphur. Members discussed referring the matter to Planning and Zoning before approving the request.
A request for a Task Order No. 103793 with KSAEngineering for engineering services to apply for a federal aviation grant for rehabilitation on the airport runway was rejected by members. Even though the grant is a 95/5 grant, City Treasurer Ginger Cornell told members the city did not have funds available to invest in the request.
Members did however, approve four Task Orders to Parkhill Engineering for engineering services. The four projects include: restoration of the museum; plaza designs; lowering the alley in block 176 in the City of Sulphur and for rebuilding the downtown area.
Derek Stone
Following a short executive session to discuss the re-employment of Andy Freeman as City Manager and entering contract negotiations, the members returned to regular session. The board voted unanimously to re-employ Freeman.
Other agenda items approved at the meeting include the following: •approving Dan Gordon as alternate signatory in absence of Mayor or Vice-Mayor;
•payment of $70,996.50 to Myers Engineering for services on the OWRB/Chickasaw Nation Grant;
•payment of $22,257.10 to Downey Contracting, LLC for change order No. 1 for two additional zone samples and additional time for water quality analysis on the water well at the cemetery;
•payment of $299,154.05 to Downey Contracting, LLC for invoice No. 1 for water well drilling on the OWRB/Chickasaw Nation Grant;
•payment of $161,690.04 to Marsau enterprises, Inc. for invoice No. 2 for the water main replacement on Wynnewood Avenue;
•payment of $35,980.00 to Myers Engineering for engineering services for 12” water main on Wynnewood;
•payment of $2,695.00 to Del Sol Consulting, Inc. for storm related consulting services; and
•payment of $1,587.00 to Haynes Equipment Company for a mechanical seal and spring kit for a pump at the waste water treatment plant.
In the consent agenda, council members approved the following:
•payment to FirstNet, a branch ofAT&T for cell phone service in an amount not to exceed $900.00;
•payments not to exceed $25,000.00 to Finish Line Fuels for fuel expenses for May; and
•setting the FY2025-2026 City of Sulphur and Sulphur Municipal Authority budget schedules.
All five members were present at the meeting.
