Council Chambers

                                                                                                                        Municipal Building

                                                                                                                        January 9, 2007

The McAlester City Council met in regular session on Tuesday, January 9, 2007, at 6:00 P.M. after proper notice and agenda was posted January 5, 2006, at 5:00 P.M.

Present:            Buddy Garvin, Haven Wilkinson, Sam Mason, Donnie Condit, Greg Rock, Travis Read, Don Lewis & Robert Ivester

Absent: None

Presiding:          Don Lewis, Mayor

INVOCATION

Captain Don Harris, Salvation Army

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

Mayor Don Lewis led the pledge of Allegiance.

CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES—PRECEDING MEETINGS

Minutes of the Special Meeting held on December 20, 2006, and Regular Meeting held on December 26, 2006, were approved, as distributed. 

Before the scheduled business, Mayor Lewis displayed a plaque given to the City by the McAlester Public Schools for the support the City has given to the schools.

SCHEDULED BUSINESS

Oklahoma Municipal League Recognition of Captain Gary Wansick, McAlester Police Department; Captain Bret Rivas, McAlester Fire Department; Lieutenant Rick Beams, III, McAlester Fire Department; Lieutenant Danny Bennett, McAlester Fire Department; Lesa Thompson, Personnel Coordinator; Timmy Adams, Street Superintendent, and Robert Dominic, Plant Operator/Northeast Liquid Waste Plant for 25 Years of Service with the City of McAlester

Mayor Lewis distributed the certificates and lapel pins to the Council.  Four of the Councilmen presented certificates and lapel pins to the four employees present.  Gary Roe, Water Treatment Superintendent, accepted the award for Robert Dominic.

Consider Action on Planning Commission Recommendation to Close Right-of-Way at 1100 Remington in the Paddocks Sub-Division

ORDINANCE NO. 2249

AN ORDINANCE TO NULL, VACATE, AND CLOSE THE PLATTED ROADWAY EASEMENT,20’UTILITY EASEMENT SOUTH OF LOT 14 IN BLOCK 2 OF THE PADDOCKS SUB-DIVISION ADDRESSED AS 1100 REMINGTON. UTILITY EASEMENT GRANTING OWNERSHIP TO SAID PROPERTY TO THE ABUTTING PROPERTY OWNERS.

Councilman Condit moved to approve ORDINANCE NO. 2249, seconded by Councilman Mason. 

Before the vote, Councilman Condit stated that the owners of this property had waited a long time to get this closed so they can make some improvements to their property.

There was no further discussion, and the vote was taken as follows:

AYE:  Councilman Wilkinson, Mason, Condit, Garvin, Rock, Read & Mayor Lewis

NAY:  None

Mayor Lewis declared the motion carried.

CITY MANAGER’S REPORT

Bart Van Nieuwenhuise stated that he had several items to report.  He distributed the payroll reports for the months of November and December 2006.    Mr. Van Nieuwenhuise then distributed the Revenue and Expense reports for December 2006.  He reviewed the totals with the Council highlighting that revenue was over budget by $1,062,153.00 and expenses were under budget by $315,135.00.  He stated that if the Council had any questions concerning the reports, to feel free to call him.

The last item Mr. Van Nieuwenhuise distributed was the Sales Tax summery for January.  He stated that the amount collected for January was $1,256,229.00 which was $141,128.19 over what had been collected last January.  This was a 12.66% increase.  He stated that sales tax collection was projected to be 4.9% and the collections, for the last seven months, were 2.2% over projected rate.  He further stated that the collection growth rate for the next five months would only need to be 1.61% to meet projections, but it was anticipated to be 7 to 9 percent.

MAYOR, COUNCIL, COMMITTEE REPORTS

Mayor Lewis reported of the 70 trees that were planted west of town, apparently 50 did not survive and the Puterbaugh Foundation has agreed to pay to replace them.  He said that the Parks Department and the Tree Board still felt that was the best type of tree.

Mayor Lewis reported that the Emergency 911 plans were still being developed.  He stated that it would probably be 6 to 9 months before it would be at full speed.  The equipment was being evaluated and some new equipment would need to be purchased.

Mayor Lewis reported that most of the Christmas decorations had been removed and the Parks and Recreations Department had done a very good job.

Mayor Lewis stated that Thursday and Friday the Council would be interviewing candidates for the City Manager’s position.  There would be three interviews on Thursday and two on Friday.

(APPROVAL OF CLAIMS TO BE PAID AS FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE) – FISCAL TRANSACTIONS

Councilman Wilkinson moved for approval of claims as follows: General - $112,621.30; Nutrition - $7,025.28; Tax Fund/Tourism - $1,268.53; and CDBG Grant Funds - $71,294.58.  The motion was seconded by Councilman Read.

Before the vote, there was discussion about the following three invoices; PSO at the Airport, Meshek & Associates for GIS services and U.S. Department of Agriculture for pigeon control services.

There was no further discussion, and the vote was taken as follows:

AYE:  Councilman Read, Condit, Wilkinson, Mason, Rock, Garvin & Mayor Lewis

NAY:  None

Mayor Lewis declared the motion carried.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to come before the Council, Councilman Condit moved for the meeting to be adjourned, seconded by Councilman Rock.  The vote was taken as follows:

AYE:  Councilman Condit, Rock, Mason, Garvin, Wilkinson, Read & Mayor Lewis

NAY:  None

Mayor Lewis declared the motion carried, and the meeting was adjourned at 6:34         P.M.

ATTEST:

                                                                                                __________________________

                                                                                                Don R. Lewis, Mayor

____________________________

Cora Middleton, City Clerk