The City of Waurika held their regularly scheduled meeting Monday evening at 6:00 pm, November 6, 2017.
All members of the council were present.
The minutes of the meeting held October 9 2017 were approved.
It was voted that the property insurance bids would be sent out to be renewed February 2, 2018.
Because the city is receiving Federal Funds the city has to adopt Ordinance Number 11032017-1 (see below), amending Section 1-12 of Article 2, City Commission, Chapter 1 to include gender identity and disability in the nondiscrimination clause.
The council approved the 2018 Waurika City Commission meeting schedule. The only change being that the June meeting will be held on Thursday, June 7th, 2018.
Next, the council voted to approve the 2018 Holiday Dates (Christmas will still be on the 25th of December).
Christmas bonuses for each full time employee in the amount of $100.00 was approved.
The various departments submitted their reports.
Street Department
Virgil Duncan reported that he read water meters, unloaded trailers of trash at the street barn, and loaded roll-offs with trash.
He moved various barricades.
Virgil also took bricks out of the road at the alley on Broadway and reinstalled bricks after the gas company laid a new gas line.
He also repaired the pot holes with asphalt; 4 in the 100 block of East G street, 2 in the 400 block of Ash, 4 in the 200 block of East H. street, and 1 in the 600 block of Florida.
Purchases and claims in the amount of $42,521.93 were approved.
The city also spent $307,813.00 of FEMA money. $1,375.00 was also approved in interest payments from the Waurika Special Revenue Fund.
The financial reports submitted by RS Meacham were approved.
No new business was discussed.
Immediately following the Waurika Council Meeting the Waurika Public Works Authority (WPWA) began it’s regularly scheduled meeting.
Acting City Manager Brad Scott reported that the city Water Plant is being maintained and the employees working at the plant are receiving additional training.
Toni from Evoqua came towards the end of the month of October and gave tremendous help and guidance with repairing and maintaining the plant equipment.
Glenn Roberts reported that the Water Department has had a busy and stressful month. However, they have accomplished quite a bit and have learned much from Toni from Evoqua.
He reports that many of the valves need to be rebuilt and the stainless steel 6” pipes under the filters used for the CIP cleans need to be replaced.
There are some mechanical items that will need to be replaced or repaired. Money that had been allocated for sewage may have to be diverged to spend the necessary money (approximately $3,000.00) to complete the needed maintenance.
Purchase orders and claims in the amount of $58,965.73 were approved.
RS Meacham submitted a financial report for WPWA that was approved.
Under New Business the council approved the spending of approximately $3,000.00 to replace the valves at the Waurika Water Plant.
At the most recent Waurika City Commissioner meeting, it was disclosed that the Waurika’s City Codes have recently been “Codified” and the city commissioners adopted Ordinance #10142019-04 which ads the most recent codes. The city uses Sterling to keep the ordinances codified. Now that the most recent ones have been adopted they will now be online and available to anyone interested.
In other business the minutes from the September 9, 2019 meeting were approved as well as the October 1, 2019 special meeting.
Joyce Greshem was re-appointed to the Waurika Housing Authority Board of Commissioners.
Rex Armstrong was appointed as the new member of the Waurika Housing Authority Board of Commissioners replacing Lupe Edwards.
The commissioners paid $17,000.00, which was the remaining balance of the 2016 Water Tower Maintenance Fee Loan.
Justin Winslett is now the Emergency Management Director for the city of Waurika. His assistant will be Stephen Dyer.
City Clerk, Michael Bryant reported that he has been working extensively with AT&T on updating the City’s communications, such as telephones and internet—which will be providing better services with newer technology. All departments will be tied together with newer equipment. Some locations will now have communications where they have never had it before. That being said the billing now should half of where it has been at around $3000.00.
Bryant also reported he filed several Certified Statements of Cost to be placed on the Ad Valorem Tax Rolls.
He also filed new “Work Orders”.
He also assisted the Police Department with the documentation and issuance of five citations for “Failure to Mow/Maintain” lawn.
City claims in the amount of $49,948.81 were approved.
The Financial Report provided by RS Meacham was accepted.
There being no new business, the meeting was adjourned.
The Waurika Public Works Authority (WPWA) Meeting began following the City Commissioner’s Meeting.
The minutes from the September 9, 2019 meeting were approved as was the minutes from the October 1, 2019 Special Meeting.
Glen Roberts reported from the Water Department.
The crew of the department repaired 13 leaks. They also serviced the lift stations.
They read meters and performed cut offs and turn ons on various meters.
They are still operating the six inch pump on the sewer system from 5:30 am until 10:00 at night. The sewer should be fixed soon.
The Bid Specifications prepared by David Wyatt, for Automatic Meter Reading/Infrastructure and publishing after the approval from the Oklahoma Water Resource Board Engineers were approved.
The decision to use USDA funds were used to pay the AMR loan closing costs in the amount of $20,000.00 at closing were approved.
The Waurika Golf Course is now closing.
Claims for the WPWA in the amount of $79,019.71 were approved.
There being no further business the meeting was adjourned.
We need groups to volunteer their time cleaning up residential areas including limb and debris removal tree trimming, mowing, etc. Any equipment such as trailers, mowers, weed eaters, etc would be a tremendous help. We will supply work gloves, trash bags, bottled water and work vests.
Earth Day is a perfect chance to get out and put a little love into your town!
During this time residents will be able to dump limbs behind the street barn and tires in front of the street barn located in the 800 block of Meridian.
The Waurika REAP grant of $45,000 will be used for erecting walls, installing trusses, and installing the roof of the building located near the old Solitaire Mobile Homes manufacturing facility. Original intended use was for housing Oklahoma
Department of Corrections inmates. We are exploring the opportunities for housing other inmates as completion nears. The City of Waurika has committed $25,000 cash match to make a total of $70,000 to complete the project.
Kristina Torres is a Waurika Native who has lived here all her life and has a vested interest in the success of Waurika. She feels the city is going in a good direction and doesn’t want it to lose any momentum. She says Waurika is a beautiful town. “We have a great community that has always been supportive of one another.
Torres graduated from Waurika in 2007 as class valedictorian.
She began her college education at the University of Oklahoma and later transferred to the University of Central Oklahoman located in Edmond.
She began working for the Waurika Ambulance Service in 2016. Torres is a paramedic, a vocation inspired by her mom.
Torres is very active within the community. Currently she is helping coach Girls on the Run. Recently she spoke at the Wish Task Force Career Fair held for Waurika students. As part of the task force she is very active in helping adults achieve career success.
Her goal is to do what it takes to help Waurika grow and prosper. She wants to see more activities for children, young people and senior adults. She says she is eager hear citizen’s concerns, and issues.
Being a first responder, Torres wants to see the Fire Department and emergency services have all the resources they need to keep local citizens safe.
She also wants to improve the cities infrastructure along with the continued efforts to improve Waurika’s parks.
Jerry Wallace
Jerry Wallace
Jerry Wallace started life in Love county and moved to Addington when he was in the seventh grade. Wallace says he was raised by the “best mother in the world”. She raised eleven kids in her family. All six boys ended up with Master’s Degrees. Wallace graduated high school from Addington and went on the earn a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Sam Houston State University out of Hunstville, Texas. Before that he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Sociology from Central State University.
“I believe I’m qualified to deal with people and listen to people. That’s what I want to do, listen to the people of this town. I’ve dedicated lots of work to the city. I’ve cleaned up the property of many of the houses they have torn down. I’ve mowed the ditches along the streets for them. I love to work and I love to help people.”
Over the past 18 years he has been a part of the Baptist Disaster Team. They go all over the country to assist with cleaning up and helping those who have experienced a catastrophe (flood, tornado, hurricane, etc). Last year he was deployed 12 times and this year he has already been deployed twice. It’s purely a labor of love. It’s completely voluntary. He says his reward is simply helping people.
He retired in 1980 from the Drug Enforcement Administration. He had served 12 years overseas in various countries including Iran.
He was working in Iran when the embassy was overtaken and the hostage crisis began. During his years of service he traveled to 45 countries. “God has really blessed me,” he says.
Wallace says he was Mayor of Waurika for six years during the 1980s. Since then he has kept up with the goings on of Waurika.
He currently feels Waurika is spending too much money for a small town. As an example, he states he attended a city commissioner meeting where they were wanting to buy a $54,000.00 police car. When he asked if he could address the issue he says they would only allow him to speak for three minutes (Note: All citizens allowed to address the commissioners during citizen input are only given three minutes to speak.) Wallace, said, “I think that is horrendous when they do that. I feel like the council we have today thinks this city is their’s and the money they have is their’s. I see this as the people’s money. They keep taxing us. Every six months they raise the water rates.”
Referring back to the purchase of the police car he said he attempted to keep them from doing that because they could have purchased one $25,000.00 cheeper. He said they laughed at him.
He also cited the purchase of the new central air unit for the Presbyterian Church, which he says is only used one time per year yet they spent $12.000.00 on the unit. “I thought that was ridiculous,” he said.
Later, Wallace said the city “transferred a million dollars from a checking account to a CD and then raised the utility rates 2.5%. Wallace goes on to say that “the average income for the whole town is $36.000.00 per family.” He says the people in town can’t afford to pay the utility rates we have. Wallace says Waurika’s utility rates are the highest in the state according to his research. He says, “Comanche’s minimum utility bill is $36.00. Waurika’s is around $100.00.” Wallace said in Ryan the citizens get water and electric for around $100 per month.
“We’ve got to improve. We’ve got to have people in there who care about this town. They are the ones we serve. I just feel like if I don’t stand up for what I believe I won’t have a right to complain.”
“That’s why I am running for city council. I know I can’t do it by myself but maybe I can convince two other ones to go along with me. I just want to leave the town better than I found it.”
“The things that really get me is a year ago they bought five new pickups for the street, water and utility department. Our city limits only go a quarter mile south and a half mile east and a half mile west and people live two miles out on highway five. They sold pickups that were only 15 years old that people are still driving today hauling wood to Wichita Falls. We don’t have to have the best of everything here. It’s all about taxing the people of this town. I can’t see how anyone can pay a $130 -$140 utility bill to the city while living in the housing. That doesn’t include their electricity.”
“The City council thinks this town belongs to them and I can’t stand it. It’s not their town. We pay for everything they do.”
Wallace went on to discuss the ladder truck used by the Waurika Fire Department, “Having a ladder truck on the fire department for $200,000 that the people are having to pay for when we’ve used it two times in the last two years we’ve had it. One was to get a cat out of the tree and the other was in a parade. Do we need it? I don’t think the people need it. The only people who pay for it are property owners. It was a bond and the city council approved it. They can stop expenditures like that if they would just stop and think about the people. I feel for the poor people and feel for the people having financial trouble. I’m going to try to do something about it. I don’t know if one person can start it and get it going but we did in the 1980s. I’m still in good enough health to get in there and fight a good battle. I’ll be working for the people not for city council. I will not go along with anything that cost the people more.
The July 8th regular meeting of the Waurika City Commissioners was lightly attended.
One of the first things decided on was the use of the future REAP Grant funds to be used to chip and seal the road that circles the Elementary School.
According to those present, it has been awhile since the road was resurfaced.
Next, the commissioners adopted their Five Year Plan. The plan is required in order to apply for a REAP Grant.
The interlocal agreement with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department for Dispatch Services in the amount of $3,027.20 per month was approved. This agreement must be approved annually.
The contract with A&A Wind Pro to lease property with Waurika was approved.
Bids were opened for the 1983 Chevy Truck belonging to the Waurika Fire Department, which had been declared as surplus. The highest bid of $1,100.00 was accepted.
Bids were opened for a surplus declared 2008 John Deer Mower. The bid for $300.00 was accepted.
Bids for the unused rolls of insulation that had previously been declared as surplus by the City of Waurika were opened. The highest bid was in the amount of $750.00. It was accepted.
The commissioners approved a new digital camera system for the new police patrol vehicle in the amount of $3,280.00.
Claims in the amount of $32,701.79 for the City of Waurika were approved.
It was reported that 25 loads of leftover millings from the road work on Hwy 70 east of Waurika was donated to the City of Waurika.
Acting City Manager reported that work continues on the Presbyterian Church.
Code enforcement continues, according to City Clerk, Michael Bryant. Currently there are 19 properties in the process of being cleaned up. There are 25 more that will be brought into the process in the near future.
It is a slow tedious process but it will pay off in the future says Bryant.
The City of Waurika now hired a new police officer. His name is Matt Peck. There will be an article in an upcoming issue about him and his experience.
One of the main concerns the police department faces is the break ins and thefts that have been occurring on the north side of town.
In other business, Commissioner Henry Lara suggested that the police officers write down the street lights they notice out at night so PSO can be contacted about repairing them the next day.
The Go Bonds, funds which have already been approved, the revenue of which comes in from the bond, in the amount of $40,255.31 were approved.
The financial report by RS Meacham was accepted and approved.
Overall it has been a good year for the city financially. One of the reasons is the revenue generated by the pipeline company temporarily operating in Waurika.
Commissioner Bill Everett complimented acting manager Brad Scott for his management. He said he could remember the shape the city was in before Brad took back over.
There being no new business, the Waurika City Commissioner meeting was adjourned.
After a short break, the commissioners reconvened to conduct the business of the Waurika Public Works Authority (WPWA).
The minutes from the previous meetings were approved.
Bids on the John Deer D140 Mower were opened. The Mower only has 60 hours on it. No bids were accepted.
The city purchased a new $800.00 air compressor for the water department.
Claims in the amount of $55,353.85 for the WPWA were approved.
Next, the finincial report from RS Meacham was approved.
There being no new business, the meeting was adjourned.
On Monday February 12 , The Waurika Development Trust invited a group of local residents to discuss ways we could make Waurika a more attractive place to live. The group will take the discussion to various clubs and organizations over the next several months for input and will report back to the Trust with a recommended plan of action. Craig Williams from Williams Landscape in Lawton was invited to talk about his suggestions for some improvements the group could do now that would make an impact and also provided some ideas for longer-term and larger improvements.
Jacob Eck and Lauren Nitschke represented the Waurika Chamber of Commerce to discuss a grant application they are preparing that would bring a group of architecture students from OU to Waurika to make recommendations for longer-term improvements to Main Street.
The group is eager to meet with the community and get additional suggestions and input.
The Waurika City Council held it’s September meeting on Monday the 10th at 6:00 pm at Waurika City Hall.
The minutes from the August 13, 2018 Meeting were approved.
Members of the City Commissionapproved the Capital Improvement Plant (CIP) for the Fiscal Year 2018-19. The plan simply states what some of the cities future needs may be.
Waurika will be applying for a REAP Grant for up to $45,000.00 to enable them to work on the former DOC project building and to advertise for bids to install wiring and HVAC (Phase II), with the right to accept bids for all or partial work.
Susan Howard has been appointed by the Governor to head up a study about children.
The “Estimate of Needs” for the Fiscal Year 2018-19 was approved.
Ordinance No. 09102018-02 was approved. It amends Chapter 2, Alcoholic Beverages, in its entirety to conform with updated state laws; providing for effective date of October 1, 2018; declaring repealer; providing for sever ability thereof; and declaring an emergency.
Waurika’s City Commissioners also approved the adoption of Ordinance No. 09102018-03, amending the Code of Ordinances of the City of Waurika by adding a new Chapter 21, pertaining to Medical Marijuana; providing for legislative intent and purpose; adopting definitions; adopting regulations of the Oklahoma State Department of Health Title 310, Chapter 681 pertaining to medical Marijuana; requiring commercial marijuana permits; establishing regulations pertaining to operations, locations, facilities and permittee restrictions; establishingregulations for marijuana cultivation; regulating advertisements; providing procedures for revocation of permits; providing for prohibited acts; providing for penalties; declaring repealer; providing for savings; providing for sever ability thereof; and declaring an emergency.
Departmental Reports:
Brad Scott, acting city manager, reported that Waurika Police Chief Gary Whittington had submitted his resignation. He also announced that Justin Winslett is the new Police Chief.
Michael Bryant reported that he had posted on four different properties and then four more two weeks later for Code Enforcement reasons. One of the properties has been improved (corner of 8th and D Street). He also reported that citizens are beginning to clean up their own properties. Slowly but surely properties are coming into compliance with the city codes.
It was suggested that a community meeting be held to remind citizens of the city ordinances when it comes to maintaining property within the city limits.
Financial claims in the amount of $21,045.88 were approved.
The financial report from RS Meacham was approved.
According to the report there was an increase in cash of about $9,400.00 over last month. Unrestricted Cash, however, was a little down. Sales and Use tax was up by about 5 percent. For instance, the August report for this fiscal year was $38,606.00. The sales and use tax receipts for August from the previous year was only $34,515.00.
