Council Chambers
Municipal Building
April 26, 2007
The McAlester City Council met in
Special Session on Thursday, April 26, 2007, at
6:00 P.M. after proper notice and agenda was posted on April 24, 2007, at 5:00
P.M.
Present: Don Lewis, Sam Mason, Travis Read, and Buddy Garvin
Absent: Donnie Condit, Haven Wilkinson, and 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
Mayor Lewis called the Special Session to order.
Beverly Akin, CDBG Director of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, addressed the Council. Ms. Akin gave a brief explanation of the grant for which she is proposing to apply. She stated that it was an Emergency Response Complex grant and she believed that was her favorite type of grant to apply for. She stated that in 2007 successful applicants would be eligible for $800,000.00. Ms. Akin stated that the Choctaw Nation had recently broke ground for an emergency response complex in Durant. She stated that the proposed complex for McAlester would be similar but smaller. She stated that the Choctaw Nation had numerous business interests in the southern portion of McAlester and along with the strong growth in the south side of town the proposed emergency response complex would be a perfect opportunity for a joint effort between the two entities. Ms. Akin stated that the Choctaw Nation would initially commit matching funds of $800,000.00 but they would contribute what ever was needed to complete the project. She added that the estimated cost of the McAlester facility would be $1.6 million. She also stated that they had not had a project completed under budget; they had always had to add extra funds.
There was discussion and questions concerning who was responsible for the land, how large the facility would be, where the facility would be placed and who was responsible for staffing and furnishing the facility.
Ms. Akin stated that McAlester’s Fire Department would be the best authority to decide the location of the facility. She stated that the facility in McAlester would be smaller than the facility constructed in Durant but the actual cost of the construction would control the actual size of the facility. She added that the City of McAlester would be responsible for staffing and equipping the facility. She did add that anything that could be built into the facility would be done, like computer stations and lockers for personal equipment. She also stated that since HUD did not allow the Nation to construct on someone else’ property the land would need to be in the Nations’ name. The Nation would then lease the land and facility to the City for $1.00 per year for five years. At the end of that time everything could be renegotiated.
Ms. Akin stated that this grant was directed at very low to moderate residents. Fire Chief, Harold Stewart stated that the Fire Department had sent out surveys to the south side of McAlester and Assistant Chief Sanders added that the area was all of McAlester south of Carl Albert Parkway.
Councilman Read asked if the City would have adequate resources to staff and furnish the facility. He also stated that this was a great deal; he just wanted to know what we needed to anticipate needing for the facility.
Chief Stewart stated that the City had enough staff to reposition and enough equipment for the facility. He added they had been looking for a permanent location to house the Haz-Mat Truck and Trailer.
Ms. Akin stated that HUD liked to have the projects completed within two years. They had just broke ground for the Durant facility and they anticipated completion within two to three years. She added that McAlester had time to plan for staffing and furnishing.
Doug Russell asked how long had this project been in the works. Chief Stewart stated that he had heard what the Nation was doing in Durant so he approached them some time ago.
Councilman Mason asked what the Council needed to do to accept the agreement. Ms. Akin stated the documents she had supplied needed to be signed. Mayor Lewis stated that this had not been listed as an action item.
Mark Roath stated that they could go ahead and sign the documents and place on the May 8th agenda to ratify.
Councilman Garvin stated that this could create a good relationship between the City and the Choctaw Tribe. Mayor Lewis agreed and added that this was a win win situation for the City of McAlester.
Mr. Roath stated that there would need to be public notification and a formal agreement to be adopted by the City if the grant is awarded. This would give the City time to set up the particulars of the lease with the Choctaw Nation.
Councilman Read moved to request the Audit and Finance Advisory Committee to review and examine the MEDS audit and any other issues that appear worthy similar to what they do for the City of McAlester. The motion was seconded by Councilman Mason.
Before the vote, Councilman Read stated he would like to see the Audit and Finance Advisory Committee conduct audits of MEDS’ various programs. He stated that he was not satisfied with Kern Shores’ audit. He stated that since the City gave MEDS funding, he felt it was appropriate for the Audit and Finance Advisory Committee to conduct and review audits when the Council requested them.
Mayor Lewis asked the City Attorney if there would be any problem with the City asking the Audit and Finance Committee to review the MEDS audits. Mr. Ivester answered no.
There was discussion as to what the Council wanted the Audit and Finance Committee to look at, if the Council was not happy with the current auditors then they should fire them and there seemed to be a lack of communication between the City and MEDS. It was also discussed that the City was not responsible for the MEDS audit and that the Audit and Finance Committee had requested information from the auditors who directed their answers to MEDS. The Audit and Finance Committee had indicated that the Council should give them direction. It was further discussed that at the meeting that had been scheduled for MEDS and the Audit and Finance Committee that only one member from MEDS had been there.
Steve Harrison stated that the contract between the City and MEDS was updated yearly and that the only mention of an audit is that MEDS will have an audit and furnish a copy to the Council.
Councilman Mason stated that since he has been here nothing had come to the Council to approve an agreement. He also stated that the City had previously had an Audit and Finance Committee made up of Council. He added that it was important that the Audit and Finance Committee meet higher standards.
Jim Mills stated that he was probably the culprit in the communication breakdown. He thought all of the questions had been answered. He stated that he would be glad to answer any questions the Council or the Audit and Finance Committee might have and meet with them anytime they felt it was needed. He also asked who MEDS should answer to.
Mayor Lewis stated that the Audit and Finance Committee was advisory only, they had no power to make decisions.
Councilman Garvin stated that the Council had talked about getting with MEDS and discussing a direction.
There was no further discussion, and the vote was taken as follows:
AYE: Councilman Mason, Read, Garvin & Mayor Lewis
NAY: None
Mayor Lewis declared the motion carried.
Councilman Read moved for the Special meeting to be recessed for an Executive Session to discuss IAFF and FOP negotiations in accordance with Title 25, Sec. 307.B.2. The motion was seconded by Councilman Mason.
There was no discussion, and the vote was taken as follows:
AYE: Councilman Mason, Garvin, Read & Mayor Lewis
NAY: None
Mayor Lewis declared the motion carried, and the Special
Session was recessed at
6:48 P.M.
The Special Session reconvened at 8:34 P.M. Mayor Lewis reported that the Council had gone into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing IAFF and FOP negotiations in accordance with Title 25, Sec. 307.B.2, only those matters were discussed by the Council. No action was taken and the Council returned to open session at 8:34 P.M., and that constituted the Minutes of the Executive Session.
There being no further business for the Council to discuss, Councilman Mason moved for the Special Meeting to be adjourned. Councilman Read seconded the motion, and the vote was taken as follows:
AYE: Councilman Read, Mason, Garvin & Mayor Lewis
NAY: None
Mayor Lewis declared the motion carried, and the Special Session was adjourned at 8:35 P.M.
Attest:
____________________________
Don R. Lewis, Mayor
________________________________
Cora Middleton, City Clerk