A rushed attempt to approve proposed amendments to the city charter received no action at the Sulphur City Council meeting Monday night. The measure will be discussed again at a special called meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 13 at 6:00 p.m. The special meeting was already scheduled before the regular meeting on Monday night.
City Manager Andy Freeman told members he and City Attorney Tom Marcum had met and reviewed the current city charter and were recommending the changes proposed to be presented to the public in the upcoming election in October.
In the July 14 meeting, Marcum suggested to the council members that he, the city manager and the mayor get together to review and make recommendations for changes, however the mayor was not included in the meeting to review the charter.
Marcum suggested repealing the charter altogether and becoming a statutory city.
Sulphur has operated as charter city for more than 100 years. A city charter is basically the constitution governing the city and must be approved by a vote of the citizens. A statutory city is governed by state statutes and eliminates the voice of the local people.
Any changes to the charter will have to be voted on by the citizens of Sulphur.
When asked what the deadline was to get the measure on the October ballot, Freeman said Thursday, Aug.14. Marcum said it is not worth rushing through the process and missing something. The last charter amendments took place in 1997.
All citizens interested in maintaining a voice in the city government are encourage to attend the Wednesday night meeting (tonight) and sign-up to voice your opinions/concerns to any proposed amendments to the charter.
In other action, council members approved the revised city personnel policy as presented by Chris Vaught of Crowe a & Dunlevy.
Several bid openings and awarding of bids were approved as follows:
• fire department software was awarded to ESO Solutions in a total amount of $2633.00;
•airport spill prevention control and counter measure plan awarded to SCS Engineering for $5,000.00;
•police department radio repeater and hand-held radios awarded to Chickasaw Personal Communications for $10,364.15; and
•demolition of property at 1148 Division awarded to Johnson Construction for $11,172.00.
Members rejected two bids from Johnson Construction on demolition of properties on West Tishomingo Street and West Wapanucka Street.
No action was taken on bids for 7 Dell computers because no bids were received. Freeman said he received a quote for the computers but no bid. The actual quote cost was revealed at the meeting.
Amendments to a Mobile Home Ordinance were approved by members allowing residents to replace their existing mobile homes with upgraded models with certain previsions.
Remediation bids from Environmental Action, Inc. for mold and lead at the Historical Society Museum was presented. Mold remediation was bid at $58,952.06 and lead paint was bid at $53,545.40. Consultants are working with FEMA on remediation costs.
Future
Reimbursements to the Ada Fire Department and Rescue for mutual aid for $4,284.93 and to the Hennepin Fire Department for damages to their emergency response vehicle for $5,000.00 during the April 27 tornado was approved by members. The payments will be made from FEMA funds received by the city.
A measure to remove two Tahoe vehicles from the surplus list was approved.
Members approved making application to the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management for state assistance dedicated for disaster impacted economies revolving fund.
No action was taken on the City of Sulphur Zoning and Ordinance and map and setting a date for a public hearing on the matter.
Members approved retaining M/O Equipment for storm debris removal and MapCo for debris removal monitoring.
No bids were received on replacing the motive angle pump seals at the wastewater treatment plant.
Members also approved the following action agenda items:
•payment of $15,075.00 to Myers Engineering for services on Chickasaw Nation/OWRB project; and
•payment of $8,445.68 to Premier Truck Group for trash truck repairs.
In the consent agenda, members approved the following:
•payment to FirstNet for cell service not to exceed $900.00;
•payment to Finish Line for fuel expenses in July not to exceed $25,000.00;
•payment of $1,020.00 to Lawton Communications, LLC. For two Motorola Portable Radios;
•payment of $305.20 to Dub Ross Company, Inc. for tin horn;
•payment $1,542.45 to Brikan for portable toilets at the cemetery;
•payment of $686.00 to Lawton Communications, LLC for replacing wiring in storm siren at 3rd and Claremore;
•payment of $230.00 to Murray County Sheriff’s Office for book in and jail fees; •payment of $2,314.17 to Pioneer Supply LLC for water meter, fittings and connectors;
• payment $1,542.45 to Brikan for portable toilets at the city barn. welding shop;
•payment of $3,985.73 to Pitmon Oil & Gas for road diesel; and
•payment of $351.66 to Core & Main for repair clamps and dressors.
Freeman updated members on various ongoing projects in the city.
The city grant writer reported on several grants that have been submitted or currently being drafted for the city.
All five members were present at the meeting.
