Council Chambers
Municipal Building
March 27, 2007
The McAlester City Council met in regular session on Tuesday, March 27, 2007, at 6:00 P.M. after proper notice and agenda was posted March 23, 2007, at 5:00 P.M.
Present: Buddy Garvin, Haven Wilkinson, Sam Mason, Donnie Condit, Travis Read and Don Lewis
Absent: Greg Rock
Presiding: Don Lewis, Mayor
Staff Present: Mark Roath, City Manager; Bart Van Nieuwenhuise, Assistant City Manager; Robert Ivester, City Attorney and Cora Middleton, City Clerk
INVOCATION
Pastor Jerry Burnside, First Assembly of God Church
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Don Lewis led the pledge of Allegiance.
CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES—PRECEDING MEETINGS
Councilman Wilkinson moved to approve the minutes for the Special Meeting and the Regular Meeting held on March 13, 2007. The motion was seconded by Councilman Read.
There was no discussion, and the vote was taken as follows:
AYE: Councilman Mason, Read, Condit, Wilkinson, Garvin & Mayor Lewis
NAY: None
Mayor Lewis declared the motion carried.
SCHEDULED BUSINESS
Consider Action on Agreement between the City of McAlester and McAlester Public Schools Regarding the Allocation of $6,000.00 for the 2007 Junior Sunbelt Baseball Classic
Councilman Mason moved to approve the agreement between the City of McAlester and McAlester Public Schools regarding the allocation of $6,000.00 for the 2007 Junior Sunbelt Baseball Classic. The motion was seconded by Councilman Condit.
Before the vote, Councilman Condit asked if the School District had seen the agreement.
Bart Van Nieuwenhuise stated that they had seen the modified agreement. He further stated that the changes that had been requested by the Council had been implemented and the agreement had been reviewed with the City Attorney.
Mark Roath, City Manager, stated that he appreciated the input from the Council and that their input had made for a better document.
Councilman Mason stated that he wanted to make a motion to amend the previous motion that the Council approve the agreement between the City and McAlester Public Schools contingent on the agreement being first submitted for approval to McAlester Public Schools. If approved by the school it can be returned and signed by the City with the proposed funds then released to McAlester Public Schools. He then stated that he had discussed this with the City Attorney and the City Manager. He further stated that it was normal procedure for the second party of a contract to sign the contract first. The motion to amend was seconded by Councilman Condit.
Before that vote, Councilman Garvin stated that he would like to see the agenda items handled in a more professional manor before they came before the Council.
There was no further discussion concerning the motion to amend the original motion, and the vote was taken as follows:
AYE: Councilman Read, Condit, Wilkinson, Mason, Garvin & Mayor Lewis
NAY: None
Mayor Lewis declared the motion to amend the original motion carried.
There was no further discussion concerning the original motion, and the vote was taken as follows:
AYE: Councilman Wilkinson, Mason, Condit, Garvin, Read & Mayor Lewis
NAY: None
Mayor Lewis declared the motion carried.
CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
Mr. Roath stated that he had only one item to report. He reported that the administration had started advertising for a finance director. He stated that the ad had been placed in several publications and the cut off date would be May 11, 2007, or until filled. He added that this would allow time to get response from all of the ads.
MAYOR, COUNCIL, COMMITTEE REPORTS
Councilman Condit stated that he would like to see items in the future placed on the agenda for discussion only, then placed back on a later agenda for action if necessary. He stated that he had citizens in the past approach him after an item had been reported on in the newspaper and inform him that had they known what the item actually entailed they would have spoke with him before the meeting. He used the donation of the land to the Pittsburg County Health Department as an example.
Councilman Garvin reported that the debris cleanup had been going very well in 5th Ward. He commended the Police Department for the way they handled and how quickly they responded to a problem that occurred in 5th Ward. He also thanked the City Manager for the information that he had provided concerning the ongoing functions of the City.
Mayor Lewis reported that April was “Blue Ribbon” month. This was an effort to educate the citizens about child abuse.
Mayor Lewis reported on the tree project west of town. He stated that the trees had been received and planted. He also added that hopefully the trees would live this time. Mayor Lewis reported that the debris cleanup was moving faster than anticipated and he reminded the Citizens that the debris needed to be along the right-of-way.
Mayor Lewis then stated that the Council was in the process of forming an “ADA” Committee, to address “ADA” concerns. He stated that he had a number of names for potential members, but if the Council had any recommendations for the committee to let him know. He stated that the committee would consist of seven (7) members, serving two (2) year terms. The initial appointment would be for four (4) members to be appointed for two (2) years and three (3) members appointed for one (1) year. Thereafter, the membership would have rotating terms.
Councilman Mason asked if there would be a second sweep in the debris cleanup to allow the citizens to move the debris into the right-of-way that might have been missed in the first sweep.
City Manager, Mark Roath, stated that he would get with the engineering department and if that was an issue then it needed to be addressed. Mayor Lewis again asked for the citizens to help with cleaning up the little debris that may have been left after the cleanup crews had passed through their area.
Concurrence with the Mayoral Reappointments of Mr. Robert Lanz and Mr. Mark Emmons to the Board of Adjustment
Councilman Garvin moved for concurrence with the Mayoral reappointment of Mr. Robert Lanz and Mr. Mark Emmons to the Board of Adjustment. The motion was seconded by Councilman Mason.
There was no discussion, and the vote was taken as follows:
AYE: Councilman Condit, Mason, Garvin, Wilkinson, Read & Mayor Lewis
NAY: None
Mayor Lewis declared the motion carried.
Concurrence with the Mayoral Reappointments of Mr. Randy Walters and Mr. Cecil Craig to the Airport Advisory Board
Councilman Garvin moved for concurrence with the Mayoral reappointments of Mr. Randy Walters and Mr. Cecil Craig to the Airport Advisory Board. The motion was seconded by Councilman Condit.
There was no discussion, and the vote was taken as follows:
AYE: Councilman Read, Condit, Wilkinson, Mason, Garvin & Mayor Lewis
NAY: None
Mayor Lewis declared the motion carried.
Mayor Lewis stated that the Housing Authority had two (2) vacancies that needed to be filled and if the Council had anyone they might recommend let him know.
(APPROVAL OF CLAIMS TO BE PAID AS FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE) – FISCAL TRANSACTIONS
Councilman Read moved for approval of claims as follows: General - $119,355.84; Capital Outlay Lease/Loan - $60,560.57; Revolving Evidence - $524.00; SE Expo Center Fund - $1,869.34; Economic Development - $8,333.33 and CDBG Grants Fund - $282.50. The motion was seconded by Councilman Wilkinson.
There was no discussion, and the vote was taken as follows:
AYE: Councilman Garvin, Read, Wilkinson, Condit, Mason & 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 Wilkinson. The vote was taken as follows:
AYE: Councilman Mason, Read, Condit, Wilkinson, Garvin & Mayor Lewis
NAY: None
Mayor Lewis declared the motion carried, and the meeting was adjourned at 6:24 P.M.
ATTEST:
__________________________
Don R. Lewis, Mayor
____________________________
Cora Middleton, City Clerk