Council Chambers

                                                                                                Municipal Building

                                                                                                February 6, 2007

The McAlester City Council met in Special Session on Tuesday, February 6, 2007, at 5:30 P.M. after proper notice and agenda was posted February 1, 2007, at 6:40 P.M.

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

Absent:             Greg Rock & Donnie Condit

Presiding:          Don Lewis, Mayor

Mayor Lewis called the Special Session to order.

Mayor Lewis stated that Councilman Condit was unable to attend the meeting because of a prior engagement with the school and he had not heard from Councilman Rock.

Mayor Lewis stated that both of the items on the agenda were for discussion only and that no action would be taken.  He stated that more research needed to be done and then the items would be brought back to the Council for further consideration.  Mayor Lewis added that the Council members needed to be aware of each other and that as each member finished with their thoughts and feelings the next member would be allowed to start.

DISCUSSION OF REFUND OF SUBTITLE “D” CHARGE OF $3.00

Mayor Lewis gave a short explanation of the Subtitle “D” fee and then referenced the amounts of $237,000.00 that had been estimated for the 2006 Budget and $245,000.00 the actual amount budgeted for 2007.  He further stated that the original amount of the fee had been $2.64 then it had been raised to $8.00 and then finally lowered to $3.00. Mayor Lewis stated that the report concerning this was basically 550 pages long.

Councilman Garvin asked if there would be any problem with the Council waiting to make a final decision until the new City Manager was here.  He stated that this would only be fair to the new City Manager. 

Councilman Mason agreed with Councilman Garvin.  He stated that the Council knew what the problem was and what the solution was.  The City needed to refund the money to the meter holders.  He stated that he thought there was a lot of homework to be done before this could be accomplished.

Bart Van Nieuwenhuise stated that the report the Mayor had mentioned contained all of the meter holders’ names from June 30, 2004 through January of 2007.

Councilman Wilkinson stated that he agreed that the Council should wait to make any decision until the new City Manager arrived.  He then asked if this could cause and budget issues.   

Mr. Van Nieuwenhuise stated that there would be an item on the next Council meeting that addressed this matter and with the City managing its funds there should only be two months that some fee would not be collected.

Councilman Read stated he also agreed with Councilmen Garvin and Mason to a certain extent.  He felt the City knew it had collected this money when it shouldn’t have and it needed to get the money back to the citizens as soon as possible not to wait two or three months to decide what to do.

Mayor Lewis stated that the money that had been collected had been used for what it was intended.  He also stated that he had been contacted by some citizens that commented that they didn’t want the money refunded and to leave the $3.00 fee.  He further stated that this information had been given to the City Attorney to review and give an opinion.

There was further discussion among the Council about what the information from OML had said, what the time frame was to accomplish this and if they has this on the February 27 meeting the new City Manager would be available to help deal with this issue.

Mr. Harold King asked how the City got to this problem.  He also stated that there should be some accountability laid at some ones doorstep. 

Mayor Lewis stated that this had been governed by ordinance and it was not known if the date had been intentionally overlooked.  The current Council was not the Council that was in place when this ordinance was approved.  He also stated that if there were no other comments then this item was closed for discussion.

DISCUSSION OF FEMA UPDATE ON ICE STORM DEBRIS

Mr. Van Nieuwenhuise distributed a map that displayed how the City Engineering Department had divided the City into eight sections.   

There was discussion among the Council concerning debris in open alleys, when the bids would be sent out and if anyone had figured what this storm had cost.

George Marcangeli and Bart Van Nieuwenhuise explained that the debris had to be on the City’s right-of-way and the companies would not go onto private property.  The City would not send out bids until after kick off meeting with FEMA and the deadline for the bids would be 7 to 10 days after they were sent out.  The cost had been estimated around $1.3 million and possibly the State would give aid of 12.5%.  It was also stated that this cleanup would not happen overnight and the Council asked the citizens be patient.

Councilman Read asked if he could mention something that had came up.  He stated that he had received information about the West Kiowa Nutrition Center was to be closed.  He did not see where there was any justification for the closeting.

Mayor Lewis stated that more information concerning the West Kiowa Center would be forthcoming.

There being no further business for the Council to discuss Councilman Wilkinson moved for the Special meeting to be adjourned.  Councilman Mason seconded the motion, and the vote was taken as follows:

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

NAY:  None

Mayor Lewis declared the motion carried, and the Special Session was adjourned at 6:16 P.M.

Attest:

                                                                                    ____________________________

                                                                                    Don R. Lewis, Mayor

________________________________

Cora Middleton, City Clerk